SEPTA provides service to over 5 million people and is a convenient way for many people to commute to and around the City of Philadelphia. Usually, passengers make it to their destinations safely. However, with this many vehicles in service serious accidents do occur, and can result in painful injuries to passengers and pedestrians. If you are hurt in a SEPTA accident due to the negligence of SEPTA or another driver, you may be able to be compensated for your injury and other losses.
Let an Experienced Lawyer Handle Your SEPTA Injury Case
SEPTA Accident Lawyer, Brent Wieand, represents passengers and pedestrians who were hurt in public transportation accidents. He has successfully handled numerous SEPTA cases and is uniquely familiar with the claims process and SEPTA’s defense tactics.
If you were injured in a SEPTA accident in Philadelphia, PA, call Brent Wieand for a free legal consultation. Since SEPTA accidents can happen at any time, attorney Wieand accepts call from clients 24 hours day, 7 days a week at 1 (215) 666-7777. Attorney Wieand will represent you on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay a fee unless he recovers money for you through an award or settlement.
Can I Sue SEPTA for My Injuries?
Whether you can prevail in a lawsuit against SEPTA for injuries arising from an accident will depend on various factors. SEPTA is a common carrier and therefore held to the highest degree of care. Even so, a public carrier is not an insurer of its passengers’ safety. Instead, it can only be held liable for injuries resulting from negligent conduct on the part of the carrier.
In addition to proving that SEPTA was negligent, you will also need to show that the accident was the cause of your injuries and/or resulted in other economic losses. Following a SEPTA accident you may be able to recover damages for pain and suffering, and loss of life’s daily pleasures, as well as noneconomic damages including medical bills, lost wages and loss of earnings capacity. Attorney Wieand has experience working with treating medical doctors, as well as other experts, such as accident reconstructions or economists, needed to prove your damages at trial.
SEPTA Premises Liability and Trip/Slip and Fall Lawsuits
SEPTA has a duty under the law to maintain its train stations, bus stations and other property in a safe condition. Dangerous conditions of the premises such as leaking pipes or broken / raised / uneven sidewalks cause slip and fall accidents. Old and crumbling walls or improperly maintained ceilings can fall and strike pedestrians causing head and neck injuries. If you are injured due to a defective or dangerous condition of SEPTA property, you are entitled to recover compensation for your damages.
Attorney Brent Wieand Handles SEPTA Injury Claims Including:
- SEPTA bus accidents
- Failure to provide adequate security
- Slip / Trip and fall accidents on SEPTA vehicles or at SEPTA stations
- SEPTA train accidents
- Pedestrians struck by SEPTA vehicles
- SEPTA trolley accidents
- SEPTA regional rail accidents
- Accidents involving SEPTA paratransit vehicles
Is There a Cap on Damages?
SEPTA is an agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As such, it enjoys the protection through the Sovereign Immunity Act which limits the amount of damages that can be recovered following an accident. An accident victim’s claim is limited to $250,000 per person and $1,000,000 dollars in the aggregate (if multiple people make a claim the most any one person can receive is $250,000 and the total amount paid out cannot be more than $1,000,000.)
Will SEPTA Pay Medial Bills Caused by an Accident?
Pennsylvania has a “no fault” system when it comes to payment of medical bills following an automobile accident. Any person who suffers injury arising out of the “maintenance or use” of a motor vehicle is entitled to recover first party benefits from the applicable insurance coverage in the following order of priority pursuant to 75 Pa.C.S. 1713(a)..
(1) for a named insured, the policy on which he is the named insured;
(2) for an insured, the policy covering the insured;
(3) for the occupants of an insured motor vehicle, the policy on that motor vehicle;
(4) for persons not occupying a motor vehicle, such as pedestrians, the insurance covering any vehicle involved in the accident.
SEPTA is a self insured entity that must abide by the same PIP payment laws as other vehicles on the road. It is responsible for paying Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits after an accident which will cover medical bills up to $5,000.00. Bills paid by SEPTA must be reduced in accordance with the Act VI statute.
If your medical bills are greater than this amount, you can seek payment of excess medical bills as part of your liability claim.
If you would like to discuss an injury claim against SEPTA call personal injury lawyer, Brent Wieand, today at 1 (215) 666-7777. Why wait? The consultation is free!
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute legal advice. You should always consult with an experienced attorney if you are injured and have questions regarding your legal rights.
