Bus Accident (SEPTA) Lawyers Philadelphia, PA
Personal Injury Lawyers Represent Clients Injured in SEPTA Bus Accidents in Philadelphia and the Surrounding Communities
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is the primary entity that operates mass transit systems in the Philadelphia area, including buses and trolleys. Every year, millions of people rely upon SEPTA to carry them throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding community—and, unsurprisingly, SEPTA buses are frequently involved in accidents that cause injuries to these passengers.
Although a SEPTA bus can collide with another vehicle and cause an accident just as easily as any other motor vehicle, in many cases SEPTA bus accidents do not even involve a collision—you may be injured simply because the driver’s negligence caused you to be jolted out of your seat or fall down the stairs. At the Marrone Law Firm, LLC, we represent clients who have been injured in all types of incidents involving SEPTA buses in Philadelphia and throughout the greater Philadelphia area.
Because of the unique complexities involved in recovering compensation following a SEPTA bus accident, it is especially important that you have an experienced lawyer by your side. If you have been injured in a SEPTA bus accident, call our offices to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss your case today.
Establishing Liability is Different in Accidents Involving SEPTA Buses
SEPTA bus drivers, as common carriers, are required to drive exercising a higher degree of care than that which applies to individuals driving private vehicles. Theoretically, this means that one could expect it to be easier to recover compensation after a SEPTA bus accident—which unfortunately is not always the case.
Because the SEPTA bus system is operated by the government itself, and a compensation award from SEPTA is essentially paid for with taxpayer dollars, certain restrictions that apply in SEPTA bus accident cases that do not ordinarily apply to typical motor vehicle accidents. Before filing a lawsuit against SEPTA, and no later than six months after the accident occurred, you are required to satisfy certain notice requirements, meaning that you must provide SEPTA with notice of:
- Your name and home address
- That you intend to file a claim for compensation
- Information regarding the date, time and location of the SEPTA bus accident
- Contact information for your doctor
In cases that do not involve a multi-vehicle accident, the rules for establishing liability differ than those that would traditionally apply. Under a Pennsylvania law known as the “jerk and jolt” law, if you were injured because the bus suddenly accelerated or decelerated, you must be able to prove that the top was so extraordinary that you could not have reasonably expected it to occur.
Why Choose the Marrone Law Firm, LLC to Protect Your Rights After a SEPTA Bus Accident?
You need the legal guidance of an experienced bus accident lawyer who you can trust whether your SEPTA bus accident was caused by:
- Negligence
- The SEPTA bus driver’s error
- The negligent driving of someone in another vehicle
- Improperly maintained equipment
At the Marrone Law Firm, LLC, our experienced lawyers have been nationally recognized for our knowledge, experience and hard work. We have been named among the best law firms in the country by the U.S. News and World Report, and have also been recognized by the Million Dollar Advocates Forum as being among the top trial lawyers in the country. When you choose to retain the services of our lawyers, you can rest assured that you will have the highest quality legal representation on your side every step of the way.
After a SEPTA bus accident, the driver is required to hand out “incident cards” to each passenger on the bus. You will provide one copy to the bus driver, which SEPTA will use if you decide to file a claim for compensation, and you will retain a duplicate. Keep this card, as it will contain information that can help our lawyers pursue a claim for compensation against SEPTA.
Call Our Offices Today to Schedule a Free Initial Consultation With an Experienced SEPTA Bus Accident Lawyer
If you have sustained injuries while riding as a passenger or a SEPTA bus, or while operating a vehicle that collided with a SEPTA bus, you likely have questions about how to proceed to recover compensation for your injuries. Call our offices today at or fill out our convenient online contact form to schedule a free initial consultation to discuss any questions that you have relating to your case or injuries. We have two office locations for your convenience, which are located at 200 South Broad Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19102 and 532 Marlton Pike West, 2nd Floor, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bus Accidents
The party against whom a lawsuit should be filed will depend upon the circumstances of the accident—in other words, upon what caused the accident. While in many cases, filing a claim with SEPTA is a way to recover compensation, if the driver of a private vehicle actually caused the accident, it may be possible to pursue a claim for damages against that person’s insurance company. If the accident was caused by a defective part, it can, in some cases, be possible to sue the manufacturer. Our lawyers will investigate to determine the responsible party in all of our clients’ cases.
The Sovereign Immunity Act is a Pennsylvania law that limits the liability of SEPTA after an accident. It caps a compensation award at $1 million per incident, or $250,000 per injured individual, regardless of how severe your injuries were and regardless of how many passengers were injured in the accident. This cap only applies with respect to personal injury lawsuits brought against SEPTA after an accident.
While the typical statute of limitations in a Pennsylvania personal injury case is two years, in cases involving SEPTA claims, you are required to provide SEPTA with notice of your intent to file a claim within six months after the incident.