The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is Atlanta’s public transportation network. MARTA is comprised of buses, trains, and streetcars, and accidents involving any of these vehicles may leave you with severe injuries.
While we rely on MARTA to get us around Atlanta, accidents sometimes occur. You might be injured in an accident involving a bus or streetcar, or you could be injured on a train platform. After an accident, you can sue the individuals responsible, including bus drivers, train conductors, and others. You can also sue the city of Atlanta because MARTA is a government-operated transit system. Keep in mind that when suing the city or other municipal entity, you have to abide by deadlines much stricter than the normal statute of limitations. Our team can help you gather evidence to prove your claims from security cameras, witnesses, and your medical records.
Schedule an evaluation of your claims with our MARTA accident and injury attorneys at Howe Law by calling us at (844) 876-4357.
Common Accidents Involving MARTA Transit
Numerous accidents and injuries involving MARTA are possible. Buses crisscross the city every day, and accidents are not unheard of. You might be a passenger on the bus during the accident, or you might be a driver or passenger in a vehicle struck by the MARTA bus. In either case, you might be very badly injured, and the driver and MARTA should be held responsible.
The same goes for train accidents. Although serious train accidents are less common than vehicle accidents on the road, they still occasionally happen. Derailments can be disastrous, and many passengers might be hurt. Alternatively, you might be injured by another passenger on a MARTA train or in another kind of accident. You might be hurt on the train or the platform after tripping on unsafe stairs or slipping on an unclean floor.
An accident does not always involve a crash or collision. Many people are injured while waiting for a bus or train to arrive. You might slip and fall on a train platform or be injured by broken glass at a MARTA bus stop. MARTA is responsible for keeping these places safe for passengers.
Who to Sue for MARTA Accidents in Atlanta
MARTA accidents are a bit different than normal traffic accidents because a governmental entity is at the center of the case. In typical accidents, you can sue the other individual for causing the crash and file an insurance claim. In MARTA accidents, the defendant might be the city itself.
Of course, you might still be able to sue individuals directly responsible for your injuries. For example, after a MARTA bus accident, you can sue the bus driver or other drivers who contributed to the accident. If the train conductor caused an accident, you might be able to hold them responsible. The same goes for accidents involving streetcars.
You can also sue the City of Atlanta because the city is responsible for the MARTA transit system. MARTA may be held liable for your injuries under certain circumstances. If your accident was caused by an employee’s negligence (e.g., a bus driver or train conductor), their negligence must have been within the scope of their job duties. If they were off-duty or committed an act of intentional harm (e.g., assault), MARTA might try to avoid liability.
Alternatively, MARTA may be held liable if the accident was caused by their transit system’s dangerous conditions. Accidents on train platforms or bus stops are often related to safety hazards that MARTA officials should have repaired or removed. Floors, stairs, and elevators around platforms must be clean and safe. If they are not, and an accident occurs because of these conditions, you might have a premises liability lawsuit on your hands.
Deadlines to File a Lawsuit for MARTA Accidents in Atlanta
When filing a lawsuit in Georgia, you must make sure you submit your claims before the statute of limitations expires. Under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33, plaintiffs have 2 years to file claims related to personal injuries. This is a tighter time limit than people realize, and you should speak to a lawyer sooner rather than later.
Another deadline to keep in mind is the deadline to submit a notice of your claim to the government. When suing a governmental entity like MARTA, plaintiffs must quickly submit a notice of the claim to the proper authorities. Under O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5(b), you must file this notice within 6 months of your injuries.
Filing the notice is different from filing the claim in court. Generally, plaintiffs submit their notices to the government before they actually file the case. If you miss the deadline to submit your notice, you might be unable to sue the government for your injuries.
Where to Gather Evidence for Your MARTA Accident Lawsuit in Atlanta
Evidence is crucial in any injury claim, especially if you are going up against a governmental entity like MARTA. It is common for MARTA to have security cameras on trains, buses, streetcars, and places where passengers congregate, like platforms. Our MARTA accident and injury attorneys can get a subpoena to have MARTA turn over their security camera footage of your accident, if any exists.
Witnesses are also an essential source of evidence. Public transit tends to be busy, and there are often numerous people around who saw MARTA accidents happen. These witnesses can explain to a jury what they saw, and they can help us prove that MARTA should be held responsible.
Many plaintiffs recover from their injuries, at least partially, by the time they are in front of a jury. As such, we might need your medical records to prove just how badly you were hurt. In cases with severe or extreme injuries, we might need a doctor to testify and explain your medical records and injuries.
Call Our Atlanta MARTA Accident and Injury Attorneys for Assistance
Schedule an assessment of your claims and damages with our MARTA accident and injury attorneys at Howe Law by calling (844) 876-4357.
