Thousands of people use the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus service for their transit needs every day. Due to the abundance of these buses in different cities, road traffic accidents involving both collision and non-collision incidents have become much more common over recent years. According to an estimate, at least one accident per 100,000 miles is covered by a Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus.
While this statistic might appear negligible to the person who encounters serious physical injury and consequent loss of wages and piling medical bills, it certainly matters. If you or your loved ones are involved in and seriously injured in an MTA bus accident, you might be entitled to legal compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, physical therapy, pain, and suffering, etc.
Causes of MTA Bus Accidents
Most bus accidents involving the Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses are preventable. Multiple factors might contribute to such accidents. Some of these include drunken driving, carelessness and over-speeding, violation of traffic signals, hazardous road or weather conditions, damaged equipment, inexperienced drivers, and more.
While pursuing a legal claim in a court of law, determining what caused the accident is one of the essential steps. It is vital to have a documented series of evidence to support your claim. These accidents may lead to serious physical injury and potential physical disability. Injuries can range from mild to moderate bruises and contusions to concussions, broken bones, internal or external bleeding, and more.
Establishing Liability in MTA Bus Accidents
The foremost question an attorney will ask is whether or not the MTA was liable for the accident. To establish the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s liability in the accident, a claim should be filed within three months or 90 days of the accident. Besides, the claim notice should demonstrate proof of negligence on the MTA or violation of the bus driver’s MTA policy. Once the Metropolitan Transportation Authority receives the claim, they have a 30-day window for a reply. The matter will be subject to a hearing to decide whether it can proceed to a court of law.
If it moves to a court of law, the injured individual has one year and 90 days to file a lawsuit against the MTA. In case the accident has led to the death of the victim, his/her family will be allowed two years to bring forth a lawsuit.
You may be entitled to financial compensation if it is proved in a court of law that the MTA or the MTA driver was responsible for the accident that led to injury or damages. For becoming eligible to receive the monetary compensation, any claim you file must comply with the MTA claim standards. It is also essential to have evidence to support your claim and prove that you were not responsible for the accident in any way. It is advisable to contact an experienced attorney for a free initial consultation regarding your case. Having expert legal advice is an ideal way to ensure that your damages get compensated.
