Even though public transit accidents tend to be a lot less frequent than car accidents, Canadians are regularly injured in trains and buses throughout the entire year. This is especially true for the state of Ontario. So, if you’ve fallen victim to an accident of the kind, you may be wondering what your options actually are. With this in mind, let’s go right ahead and take a look.
Can damages be claimed?
Those who are injured in an accident of the kind might be capable of claiming damages against the operator of the train or bus as well as against the municipality itself. If the accident has been caused in a vehicle which is part of the public transit system such as a regular bus line or the subway, for instance, the municipality might be found liable for the injuries which derive from that accident. When a private bus, on the other hand, is the cause of the accident and hence the injuries, both the municipality and the operators of the vehicle could be held liable.
If the accident has been caused by the negligent behavior of the operator of the bus or train, for instance, you might address your claim towards the responsible party. The damages which you can claim are the sum of the financial losses as well as the pain and suffering which have derived from your injury. These could include a different range of things such as loss of past income, home maintenance as well as housekeeping and family expenses and others of the kind.
Common injuries
As far as the injuries go, it’s important to note that the lack of seatbelts in vehicles of the public transportation could cause quite a lot of complications. With this in mind, some of the most common ones include whiplash, spinal cord injuries, fractures, orthopedic issues and others types of injuries. However, even though these injuries are particularly challenging and rather dangerous at the same time, they are likely to be milder in comparison to the injuries which may derive from a pedestrian accident, for instance.
In any case, if you have been involved in a public transit accident, you should seek out the remedies which are rightfully yours. The first thing that you should do after getting the necessary medical assistance is to get in touch with an experienced personal injury lawyer. He is the one who’s going to assist you in filing the claims and seeking reparation of the damages that you’ve incurred. Make sure that you get an experienced lawyer on your side and your legal representation is going to be up to the mark. They have handled similar cases in the past and understand all aspects of the public transit accidents. All of these are covered under the Statute of Limitation and that is why it is important not to lose any time before contacting a lawyer.
