Recourse for Public Transportation Accidents

Public transportation is also known as a "common carrier." Wikipedia defines a common carrier as, "A business that transports people, goods, or services and offers its services to the general public under license or authority." Under Californian law, city and state operated light rail systems, busses and trains are considered to be "common carriers."  In effect, a common carrier would include:

• A city bus
• Taxis
• Elevators, escalators and moving walkways
• Private charter buses and tour buses
• Ski lifts
• Passenger trains
• Metro link

Common carriers transport mass amounts of people on any given day and have a heightened responsibility for those passengers's safety. The transportation companies have to provide a higher standard of care for their vehicles regular maintenance, driver safety training and for the passengers themselves. Unfortunately, human error comes into the equation and people still get injured while riding public transportation. When passengers get hurt while riding public transportation, the public transportation provider is legally liable for the passenger's injuries sustained in the event in question.

Common Injuries

How do people commonly get injured on a train or city bus? Below are a few examples of how injuries are commonly incurred.

• The bus stops suddenly and you hit your head.
• You are knocked down to the ground when the bus or train moves forward before you are seated.
• The bus or train collides with a motor vehicle or semi truck and you are injured.
• The driver escalates too quickly while you are walking and you are knocked over.
• The train breaks suddenly in order to avoid colliding with an object, car or person on the tracks.
• The train collides with another train.
• The train collides with a car, truck or runs over a person on the tracks.

If you or a loved one, have been injured while riding public transportation, a Riverside public transportation attorney at the Law Offices of Michael R. Young can help. We have over ten years of experience helping our clients receive compensation for their injuries in public transportation accidents and are prepared to fight the "big" companies in order to protect your rights!

Contact a Riverside Public Transportation Accidents Lawyer at our firm today for a free case evaluation.