Gainesville Mass Transit Accident Lawyer

Gainesville Mass Transit Accident Lawyer

Were you injured in an accident while using public transportation in Gainesville, FL? You may be entitled to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages and more. However, mass transit accident claims can be complex. An experienced Gainesville mass transit accident lawyer at Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers can help you fight to recover the maximum compensation you deserve.

Collectively, our legal team has over 300 years of experience handling complex accident and insurance claims. We’ve recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts for our clients.

You’ll only have a limited amount of time to take legal action. Call our law offices in Gainesville, Florida, at (877) 255-3652 or contact us and schedule a free consultation to get started.

How Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Mass Transit Accident in Gainesville

How Allen Law Firm, P.A. Can Help After a Mass Transit Accident in Gainesville

It’s always critical to recover fair compensation if you’re hurt due to someone else’s negligence. The stakes tend to be higher in collisions involving mass transit. Your injuries have the potential to be much more severe. When government transit agencies are involved, the case can quickly become complicated.

Our personal injury lawyers in Gainesville, FL are committed to helping accident victims recover the full compensation they deserve. We have former insurance adjusters on our staff–so we know how to neutralize common insurance tactics that could minimize your payout.

When you retain our legal services, we will:

  • Thoroughly investigate the circumstances of the accident
  • Identify all liable parties and insurance coverage options
  • Hire top-rated experts when needed
  • Help you understand how much your case is worth
  • Negotiate with the insurance company and defense lawyers on your behalf

Our legal team has earned both an AV-preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a “10.0 Superb” rating from Avvo. We’ve also won hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients over the years.

You shouldn’t be responsible for damage caused by an accident that’s not your fault. Call to schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how our trusted Gainesville personal injury attorneys can help.

How Common Are Mass Transit Accidents in Gainesville?

The Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS) operates the mass transit system in Gainesville and across Alachua County. It’s also the primary public transportation service for the University of Florida and Santa Fe College campuses.

Most of the time, public transit is a safe way to get around. However, serious accidents involving RTS buses and other vehicles can and do happen. According to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash data, 232 buses were involved in fatal accidents in 2019 alone.

Our lawyers handle all types of mass transit accident cases in the Gainesville area, including those involving:

  • RTS buses
  • Later Gator late-night transit buses
  • GatorAider shuttle buses
  • School buses
  • Greyhound buses
  • Amtrak trains
  • Charter buses
  • Shuttle buses
  • Airplanes
  • Cruise ships
  • And more

If you’ve been injured in a mass transit accident, don’t hesitate to get the legal advice you deserve. Call Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today.

What is My Gainesville Mass Transit Accident Case Worth?

If you’re like most accident victims, you probably don’t have much experience with the insurance claims process. Of course, that also means you might not fully understand how much your personal injury case is worth. Without an experienced lawyer by your side, you risk accepting less than you deserve.

The value of any personal injury claim depends on a variety of factors. Some damages are easy to calculate–you’ll have receipts to document your medical bills and property damage. Others are much more difficult to calculate.

Factors that can impact the value of your mass transit accident case include:

  • The type of injuries you’ve sustained
  • Whether you’ll suffer any permanent or long-term impairments
  • The cost of your medical care
  • Your lost wages and income
  • Any damage to your quality of life or future ability to work
  • The circumstances of the crash 
  • The identity of the responsible parties

Mass transit accident cases are more complex than typical auto accident claims. Multiple parties may share financial responsibility. It’s possible that a government agency may ultimately be required to pay your damages.

Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers have the experience and resources you need in your corner. Call for a free case review with a Gainesville mass transit accident attorney today to learn more about how we can help assess your case value.

What Types of Damages Are Available to Mass Transit Accident Victims?

Accident victims are entitled to recover their full damages under Florida personal injury laws. Those damages include both economic damages and non-economic damages.

Our lawyers at Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers will aggressively pursue compensation for:

Every victim’s economic and non-economic damages are unique. Our lawyers will carefully assess your case to identify all losses you’ve suffered. 

Can I Recover Damages If I’m Being Blamed for a Mass Transit Accident in Florida?

Florida modified comparative fault laws can reduce your compensation award if you were partly responsible for the accident. However, you won’t lose your right to seek compensation unless you were 51% or more at fault. Assuming you were 50% or less to blame, you can still recover damages but they will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault.

In other words, if you were 20% liable for the accident, your settlement or verdict will be reduced by 20%. 

Our Gainesville Mass Transit Accident Lawyers Will Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Injuries

Injuries sustained in mass transit accidents can be severe. Our lawyers often represent clients who have suffered:

We know that starting a legal battle can be daunting if you’re recovering from serious injuries. If you were hurt, our lawyers can handle the details and help you fight for a full recovery. Reach out to schedule your free case evaluation today.

What Causes Most Mass Transit Accidents in Gainesville, Florida?

Some of the most common causes of mass transit accidents include:

  • Failure to yield the right-of-way to other vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists
  • Drivers who are distracted by smartphones, GPS, and passengers
  • Inexperienced drivers
  • Negligently designed intersections 
  • Worn tires, faulty brakes, and other mechanical failures
  • Failure to maintain the bus or vehicle
  • Fatigued driving
  • Drunk driving
  • Driving under the influence of drugs
  • Dangerous or illegal turns
  • Defective safety equipment 
  • Broken or missing guardrails
  • Failure to warn passengers about unsafe conditions
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Accidents where passengers become caught between doors
  • Assault or violence
  • Stopping in dangerous locations
  • Electrocution or electric shock
  • Failure to maintain train tracks
  • Failure to maintain bus stops

Sometimes multiple factors can play a role in causing a mass transit accident. In those cases, it’s possible that more than one person can share liability.

How Do I Prove Negligence After a Mass Transit Accident in Florida? 

Negligence is the failure to exercise due caution under the circumstances. To prove negligence, you must establish:

Bus drivers and operators of public transit vehicles are common carriers. Under Florida law, the bus driver is subject to a heightened duty of care. Still, even if the bus driver violates the duty of care, another party may ultimately be responsible for your damages. For example, the company that owns and operates the bus may be liable for an employee’s negligent driving.

In the end, you’ll need evidence to support your claim. Our Gainesville car accident lawyers will work to locate the strongest evidence possible, including:

  • Evidence about the at-fault driver’s license and qualifications
  • Police reports
  • Video surveillance footage
  • Eyewitness statements
  • Black box recording data, if available
  • Evidence from the crash scene
  • Photos 
  • And more

There are many ways to get hurt while using public transportation. If you were injured, call our legal counsel to learn more about how we can help you fight for the fair compensation you deserve.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Mass Transit Accident in Florida?

Florida recently changed its personal injury statute of limitations. If your mass transit accident occurred on or before 3/23/2023, the default deadline is four years. If your accident occurred after that date, the default deadline is two years. However, exceptions to the statute of limitations apply in some cases.

It’s always best to start working on your case soon after the accident. That way, you’ll have the strongest chance of locating the evidence to prove your case. Contact our law office to confirm the appropriate deadline for your case and to get started.

Contact a Gainesville Mass Transit Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation

At Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers our car accident attorneys are always available to sit down and discuss your case. Your first consultation is 100% free of charge, so call today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Gainesville mass transit accident lawyer.

Our personal injury law firm in Gainesville, FL also provides: