Especially if you do not own a car of your own, you may rely on Tampa’s public transportation systems every day. While you may have an impressive track record of pleasantly safe commutes on these public transports, this may all, unfortunately, change in a split second. That is, no matter how many safety measures these transport services take and observe, you may not be immune from an auto accident while riding as a passenger. With that being said, please follow along to find out what you should do after being involved in a mass transit accident and how a proficient Tampa auto accident lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help you take steps in the right direction.
What are the types of mass transit available in Tampa?
The city of Tampa offers public transportation services ranging from buses to streetcars and even water taxis. However, no one type of mass transit may be considered safer than another. Without further ado, below are potential accidents that you may experience on each type of mass transit:
- Types of bus accidents documented in Tampa:
- The driver may have failed to safely discharge passengers at bus stops.
- The employer may have failed to ensure the proper emergency kits were stowed on board.
- The city may have failed to maintain a safe bus shelter or designate a safe bus stop location.
- Types of streetcar accidents documented in Tampa:
- A motor vehicle driver may have failed to leave the track clear when the streetcar is approaching.
- The operator may have failed to wait for passengers to enter safely before closing the streetcar’s doors.
- The city may have failed to fix a damaged track to prevent any derailments in a timely manner.
- Types of water taxi accidents documented in Tampa:
- The captain may have failed to proceed slowly past other water taxis to avoid capsizing.
- The employer may have failed to cancel transport operations during poor inclement weather.
- The manufacturer may have failed to notice a faulty tool that may lead to a mechanical failure.
What should I do after being involved in a mass transit accident?
It is almost always the case that, as a mass transit passenger, you have nothing to do with the catalyst of your auto accident. Yet, you may be one of the individuals who is most affected by its aftermath, given your possibly catastrophic bodily injuries and property damages. For this reason alone, you must not overlook your prime opportunity to attain justice over the matter at hand and file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party.
Of note, the at-fault party of your mass transit may have been the mass transit driver or operator, the mass transit manufacturer, the city of Tampa itself, or even a combination of all three. So you must understand that if your legal action is directed toward the city in any way, you must first file a notice of claim with the entity. This written notice must be given within 20 days of your mass transit accident date. Otherwise, there may be no conceivable way to move forward with obtaining financial compensation and overall justice.
Do not wait. Retain the services of a talented Tampa auto accident lawyer from Merricks Law Group, P.A. We look forward to working with you and taking on your case.
