One of the benefits of mass transit is its comparative safety as a mode of transportation. Traveling by bus is safer than traveling by car, but that doesn’t mean bus accidents and injuries never happen. Another vehicle may collide with a bus and injure passengers. A bus driver may run a red light or change lanes into a commuter vehicle, injuring the other vehicle’s driver and passengers. People are often injured at bus stops while boarding or disembarking. If you’ve been injured, our Ohio Bus Accident Lawyers are ready to help.
Bus accidents may also add an extra layer of complication to your personal injury claim. Buses are often run by cities or municipalities. For example, RTA Rapid Transit in Cleveland is owned and operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA). The RTA is what’s known as a “political subdivision,” or essentially a government agency tasked to perform a specific purpose. Our Ohio Bus Accident Lawyers understand the unique challenges involved in these cases.
Holding government agencies accountable for the injuries they cause can be quite different than holding a private individual or business accountable. You may need to follow specific steps or meet a new set of deadlines in order to successfully pursue an injury claim against a government agency like RTA Rapid Transit. That’s why it’s crucial to have skilled Ohio Bus Accident Lawyers on your side.
Residents in other Ohio cities may face similar challenges after bus accidents. It’s important to work with a bus accident injury law firm who understands how these cases are different and how best to pursue the compensation the injured parties deserve.
While political subdivisions in Ohio do have somewhat broad immunity to tort-claims (like personal injury lawsuits) there are a number of important exceptions. For example, there’s an exception for operation of a motor vehicle (like a bus). Unfortunately, there are exceptions to the exceptions built into the law for some government workers, like police, firefighters and first-responders heading to an emergency.
As it pertains to most bus accident injuries, yes, you can file a claim against the transit authority and the driver. Damages in these cases will likely be limited to what is known as actual losses. That means you’ll be able to get compensation for your medical costs, lost wages and property damage, but only insofar as your other insurance didn’t cover the entirety of your losses. There are also caps on compensatory damages like pain and suffering.
Due to the nature of transit authorities and the legal protections they are given, it is of vital importance that plaintiffs promptly make their claims through the appropriate channels. Holding a government employee or agency responsible for their negligence can be difficult, which is why it’s best not to wait too long to get the process started.
The team at the Buckeye Law Group is here to help. Give us a call at 1-800-411-PAIN to get started today.