Metra Accident and Injury Lawyers in Columbus

METRA, the public transit system operated by the Columbus Consolidated Government, moves riders across the city every day on its fixed bus routes and its DART paratransit service. When one of those buses is involved in a crash, an injured passenger, pedestrian, or motorist faces a claim that is very different from an ordinary car accident, because METRA is run by a government entity. At Howe.Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, we handle these claims.

A claim against METRA requires an ante litem notice within six months

Because METRA is operated by the Columbus Consolidated Government, a claim against it is subject to Georgia's ante litem notice requirement. Under O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5, you must give the city formal written notice of your claim within six months of the crash, long before the ordinary two-year deadline, or the claim can be barred entirely. Missing that notice ends an otherwise strong case, which is why early, experienced counsel matters after any crash involving a METRA vehicle.

A transit operator's high duty of care

A public transit operator owes its passengers a high degree of care for their safety. Injuries happen when a bus stops or accelerates suddenly, when a driver collides with another vehicle, when a passenger falls boarding or exiting, or when a pedestrian is struck. We investigate the operator's conduct, pull the vehicle's onboard camera footage before it is overwritten, and obtain the incident report to establish exactly what happened.

Georgia's fifty percent rule and full recovery

For a crash in Georgia, under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33 you recover nothing if you are found fifty percent or more at fault, and your recovery is reduced by your share below that line. Because a claim against a government entity can be limited, it is essential to identify every other responsible party, such as another driver whose negligence contributed, whose insurance is not subject to the same rules. We pursue every available source of recovery. The most seriously injured are treated at Piedmont Columbus Regional, the region's Level II trauma center.

Serving injured riders and pedestrians across Columbus

Our Columbus team handles METRA and transit injury claims across Muscogee, Harris, Chattahoochee, Troup, Marion, and Talbot counties. We serve people hurt in Columbus, Fort Moore, Midland, Cataula, Ellerslie, Waverly Hall, Pine Mountain, and Hamilton.

Reports, evidence, and filing your case

A transit crash is documented by METRA and, depending on where it happened, investigated by the Columbus Police Department or the Georgia State Patrol. We move fast to preserve the onboard video and the incident report, serve the required ante litem notice, obtain your records from Piedmont Columbus Regional, and when a fair settlement cannot be reached, we file your lawsuit in Muscogee County State Court, with high-value claims heard in Muscogee County Superior Court.

Speak with a Columbus transit accident attorney

A claim against a public transit system has traps an ordinary car crash does not, and the six-month notice deadline is unforgiving. Call (706) 608-5231 for a free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe no attorney fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Common questions

How quickly do I have to act after a METRA crash?

Much sooner than the ordinary two years. Because METRA is run by the city, a claim requires written ante litem notice within six months of the crash. Because that deadline is so short, it is important to contact a lawyer right away after any crash involving a METRA bus.

I was in my own car when a METRA bus hit me. Is that also subject to the notice rule?

Yes. Because METRA is operated by the city, a claim against it for the negligent operation of its bus is subject to the ante litem notice rule whether you were a passenger, a pedestrian, or in another vehicle. We serve the notice and pursue any other at-fault parties separately.

How do I know if the bus that hit me was a METRA vehicle?

We determine that quickly. METRA operates the fixed-route city buses and DART paratransit, and identifying the operator decides which rules and which deadline apply. We confirm it early so your claim is handled correctly from the start.