Buses are a normal part of the public transportation system in many cities, including Atlanta. If you are hit by a city bus here in Atlanta, you can take legal action against those responsible.
Immediately after being hit by a bus operated by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), you should call for emergency medical help and the police. You should also speak with an attorney about exploring legal options. You can file a lawsuit against several parties, including the bus driver and the city. Suing a city or municipality involves complex rules and procedures that must be adhered to, or the entire case might be jeopardized. While filing a lawsuit is one option, you might prefer to reach a settlement agreement.
Bus accidents can be severe, and victims are often very badly injured. Our Atlanta bus accident lawyers can help you sue those responsible, including the city. For a free review of your case, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
What to Do Immediately After Getting Hit by a MARTA Bus in Atlanta
Being hit by a bus is extremely dangerous, and it is crucial that you move fast to get help. You should immediately call 911 for help. If you are too badly injured to make the call yourself, someone nearby should make the call instead. You should also make sure that 911 dispatches law enforcement officers to the scene too.
If you can, you should take some photos and record videos of the accident scene for legal purposes. If someone is with you, have them take some photos for you so you can focus on getting help. These photos might be a great help to you in a lawsuit. Accident scenes often contain lots of details that may indicate who is at fault. These details tend to be lost quickly when the police clear the scene away, and your photos might preserve these details.
After you get to a hospital and get medical treatment, contact our Georgia bus accident lawyers about how to hold the bus driver and MARTA responsible. Your injuries might be severe, your medical bills are likely expensive, and a lawsuit might help you recover significant damages to pay for your recovery.
Can I File a Lawsuit if a MARTA Bus Hits Me in Atlanta?
You can sue the bus driver in addition to the city for your damages because the city oversees the MARTA bus system. You should act quickly because deadlines for lawsuits against government entities are short. Our Atlanta bus accident attorneys can help you get started as soon as possible.
The Bus Driver
In many MARTA bus accident cases, the driver’s actions are often the direct and proximate cause of the collision. Speeding, traffic violations, distraction, or even alcohol are common factors in bus accidents caused by negligent bus drivers. Our Atlanta bus accident lawyers can help you prove that the driver acted negligently and should be held liable for the collision.
The City of Atlanta
The city owns buses operating as part of the MARTA system, and bus drivers are city employees. As such, you can sue the City of Atlanta for your injuries. However, doing so is often challenging, and there are some extra hurdles before your case makes it to court.
The statute that allows us to sue the City of Atlanta for motor vehicle accidents involving city-owned vehicles is O.C.G.A. § 36-92-2. Under this statute, the city’s sovereign immunity is waived for losses involving city-owned motor vehicles up to certain limits.
For accidents occurring after January 1, 2008, the city might be liable for up to $500,000 for bodily injuries or death of any one person and up to $700,000 for injuries or death of two people in a single accident. The city might also be liable for up to $50,000 for damage to property in a single accident.
This only applies to accidents resulting from negligence within the scope of the bus driver’s duties. If the accident was intentional or resulted from some criminal act, you might be unable to sue the city. Additionally, you can only sue the city if you provide notice of your claim within 6 months of the crash, according to O.C.G.A. § 36-33-5(b). This is a far shorter deadline than the typical statute of limitations in personal injury cases, and it is important that you speak with an attorney quickly.
Third Parties
While you might have been hit by the MARTA bus operated by the bus driver, other drivers might have contributed to the accident and should be named in your lawsuit. After being hit by a bus, contact our Hattiesburg bus accident lawyers for help figuring out how your accident happened and who should be held liable.
For example, suppose a driver recklessly cut off the MARTA bus driver on the road, but the bus driver was traveling at an unlawfully high speed and could not stop in time, so they swerved into you on the sidewalk. In such a case, the driver who cut off the bus and the bus driver can be held responsible because their negligence came together to cause the accident.
Should I Reach a Settlement After Getting Hit by a Bus in Atlanta?
Whether you should settle depends on your case and what you want. Our Atlanta bus accident attorneys can help you explore these options and represent you in settlement talks or a full trial.
Sometimes, a settlement might get your damages covered quickly if the city is eager to settle. They usually do not want to spend money and resources on litigation, and if you have a strong case, they might agree to cover the full extent of your damages to avoid a trial.
If a settlement does not cover all your damages, we can help you pursue a full trial. You might also want a trial because you want the city held responsible in a way everyone can see. Settlements are private agreements, and sometimes these agreements require the parties to keep quiet about the terms of the settlement. Many injured plaintiffs get a sense of justice when the person or people who harmed them is held publicly accountable.
Call Our Atlanta Bus Accident Lawyers for Help Now
If you were hit by a MARTA bus, our Warner Robbins bus accident lawyers can help you sue the driver, the city, and other drivers who share responsibility for the accident. For a free case evaluation, call Howe Law at (844) 876-4357.
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