Injury on a Bus, Train or other LA Public Transportation
Are you searching for a Los Angeles public entity injury attorney? What happens if you are injured on public transportation in Los Angeles? If you are riding an LA Metro Bus, Metro Rail, OCTA or Amtrak vehicle and are injured in an accident you can recover for your medical bills and many associated costs. This is known as a “public entity” case, and the rules are a bit different for public entity cases here in California.
You must submit your injury claim to the appropriate agency within six months of the accident. There are statutory requirements for what constitutes a valid claim, and this is one of the many reasons it is important to work with an experienced LA public entity injury attorney.
My name is Rivers Morrell, and after more than 40 years of experience in accident and injury cases I can tell you public entity cases require legal expertise, skill and experience. If you fail to submit a valid claim within the six month time frame, you will most likely be prohibited from seeking any kind of financial recovery or settlement with the agency responsible for your injury. As your attorney, we ensure that the proper agency is identified and that all paperwork and supporting documentation is in order and submitted in a timely manner.
Rivers Morrell is an experienced and proven Los Angeles public entity injury attorney with more than 40 years of experience. Serving all of the Los Angeles area, Orange County and the Inland Empire, Mr. Morrell is highly respected by insurance companies, his peers, the legal industry and his clients alike.
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(949)305-1400
Injuries on Los Angeles Public Transportation Can Be Quite Severe
If you are injured while riding an LA bus or train the likelihood of serious injuries greatly increases. Passengers are not restrained in public transport as they are in private vehicles, and the forces of the accident throw occupants of a train or bus around the compartment. In some cases they are ejected from the vehicle altogether.
This can result in severe head trauma including traumatic brain injury, as well as severe injuries to the neck or spine resulting in permanent injury such as paralysis. These cases may require a “life care plan” to ensure that all present and future medical costs and expenses are accounted for within the settlement. This includes not only ongoing healthcare and medical treatment, it considers modifications to a patient’s home or vehicles as well as the impact on the victim’s ability to earn a living. A comprehensive settlement must include lost wages and compensation for the pain and anguish associated with the accident and suffering in the aftermath.
If the accident results in fatal injury, a wrongful death action will be brought on behalf of the family.
Government Liability May Extend Past the Accident Itself
When a Los Angeles public entity injury occurs on an LA Metro Bus or Metro Rail and the driver or operator is at fault, the course of action may be fairly clear to an experienced public entity injury lawyer. In some cases accidents occur as a result of property, signage road conditions or other issues controlled by government entities, resulting in public entity liability.
Additional Liability May Be Due to Any of the Following:
Inadequate lighting, signage or control devices- Poorly designed streets or abutments
- Improper maintenance issues such as potholes, uneven sidewalks or surfaces or even loose gravel
- Poorly designed parks or playing fields that lead to injury
- Inadequate supervision of a playground, public pool or other facility
Local Los Angeles government may be liable for many issues with public sidewalks, streets, buildings, parks, recreational facilities as well as accidents and injuries on Metro bus and rail vehicles.
Contact an Experienced Los Angeles Public Entity Injury Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured on a Metro Bus, Metro Rail or other public entity property or if you have lost a loved one due to a wrongful death I invite you to review the strong recommendations of our clients and the legal industry and contact us or call 949-305-1400 to speak with me personally for a free consultation. There is no cost to you out of pocket as we work on a contingency fee basis.
It is important to act immediately after an accident on the Metro or due to a public entity liability as there is only six months to complete and file a valid claim.
The rules in Los Angeles public entity liability and injury cases are quite complex, and the forms and associated materials are purposefully hard to read and follow. Trust your injury case to an experienced LA lawyer with more than 40 years of experience.