Alpharetta MARTA Accident Lawyer

Injured in a MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) accident? Whether you’re a passenger, pedestrian, or another motorist, you have the right to hold MARTA operators and other related parties liable for your accident-connected damages. Thousands of Georgians move through the MARTA public transportation system daily. While public transportation systems are generally regarded to be safer than private vehicles, accidents involving MARTA trains and buses do happen.

If you or a family member gets hurt in an accident involving MARTA, get in touch with Spaulding Injury Law immediately. MARTA accident cases have very stringent deadlines for filing claims, and our experienced Alpharetta MARTA accident lawyers can handle all the legal aspects of the case for you.

MARTA Accidents Could Lead to Catastrophic and Life-Threatening Injuries

Whether you are a MARTA train or bus passenger, pedestrian, another driver, or someone unfortunate enough to be injured on MARTA property, a MARTA-related accident could be devastating. In some cases, injuries could impact the victim’s life for many years or their whole life.

You deserve to receive fair compensation for your losses and suffering due to another’s negligence. Our Alpharetta MARTA accident lawyers will fight to ensure that all negligent parties will compensate you for your injuries, which could include:

• Severe soft tissue damage
• Whiplash and other neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Chest injuries
• Crashed and broken bones
• Head and facial injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Internal bleeding and organ damage
• Amputations
• Wrongful death

MARTA Accident Cases We Handle

Our injury law firm in Alpharetta can handle all kinds of cases involving MARTA vehicles, equipment, and property, such as the following:

Train and Bus Accidents

Unlike personal motor vehicle accidents, claiming compensation for injuries sustained in MARTA vehicle accidents that occur due to driver or train operator negligence is not so easy. The reason for this is that MARTA is what’s called a common carrier since it transports people from place to place in exchange for money. Operators and drivers of common carriers are, in turn, held to high standards of care. This means that their drivers must always exercise the highest level of care to ensure that their passengers are safe.

Put simply, MARTA needs to be extra cautious and must do everything reasonably possible to safeguard their passengers. So if an accident occurs because of a MARTA driver’s negligent acts, they could be held legally liable for the accident as well as the resulting injuries and losses.

Negligent Security

Most MARTA-related accidents occur in train stations, bus stops, and parking lots and not in MARTA vehicles. Victims could be attacked on property owned and maintained by MARTA and sustain injuries in various ways. These cases are founded on premises liability claims, in which people get injured while they were on someone else’s property.

As property owners, MARTA’s operators have a legal duty to make sure that their property and facilities are well-maintained and safe for their patrons. They must likewise ensure the safety of their property so that people won’t have to worry about getting hurt, assaulted, or even killed on MARTA property.

Failure to Maintain Equipment and Property

MARTA is legally obligated to maintain its property, which includes all its buses, trains, escalators, elevators, bus stops, train stations, platforms, parking lots, and stairs, among others. It also has to make certain that everything is inspected regularly and repaired or replaced as needed. Otherwise, MARTA could be held responsible for any accident that happens due to poor maintenance of its property and equipment.

At Spaulding Injury Law, our top Alpharetta MARTA accident lawyers will provide aggressive and compassionate legal representation to help ensure that you get fairly compensated for your damages, whether through a personal injury settlement or a verdict in court.

Filing a Claim against a Government Entity

If you are in a Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) accident, your injury claim is against a government entity, which means the rules and regulations are quite different than they are for most personal injury claims. Understanding the unique nature of these challenging claims is paramount to your ability to obtain the compensation to which you are entitled – and that you need to regain your health and well-being.

Statute of Limitations

To begin, the time limit – or statute of limitations – for filing a claim against the City of Atlanta, which runs MARTA, is very abbreviated. While those injured by another person or by a non-governmental entity generally have two years from the date of the injury-causing accident to file a lawsuit, those injured in MARTA accidents have only six months in which to file their claims against the city. Further, both the mayor and the city council must approve a submitted claim before it can be paid, and if it’s not approved, filing a lawsuit against the city is the next step.

Filing a Claim with the City of Atlanta

In order to file a claim with the City of Atlanta, you’ll need to use the form provided by the city, and both of the following elements must be met:

• The governmental employer or officer involved, such as the bus driver in a MARTA bus accident, must have been acting within the scope of his or her duties at the time of the accident.
• The losses you experienced as a result of the accident in question must be covered under the law.

Additionally, you’ll need to include information about all the following:

• The name of the government entity, which – in your case – is MARTA
• The time and location of the injury-causing accident
• The entity’s actions or failure to act that represents the root cause of your claim
• The nature of the losses you experienced and the associated amount of these losses

Working with a Dedicated MARTA Accident Lawyer Is Well Advised

Personal injury claims are challenging, but accident claims against government entities, such as MARTA, are more so. Not only are the legal requirements more specific, but you also have considerably less time to address the matter. While you focus on your recovery, your seasoned MARTA accident lawyer will skillfully advocate for your legal rights and for your rightful compensation.

MARTA’s Duty of Care for Safety

It’s important to note that the train conductors and bus drivers who work for MARTA are professional drivers who – as a result – owe their passengers (and everyone else on the road) an elevated duty of care, which amounts to a higher standard of care. As such, any of the following can amount to liability for an ensuing accident:

• Excess speed
• Impairment
• Exhaustion
• Distraction
• Failure to yield or stop
• Tailgating
• Failure to obey posted traffic signs, lights, or signals

If the bus driver or train conductor engages in a practice that puts passengers or any third-parties at increased risk, it amounts to a violation of the duty of care they are owed.

Determining Liability for MARTA Accidents

The vast majority of MARTA accidents can be complicated mainly because various factors could cause or contribute to such accidents. Regardless of the kind of accident, however, any person or entity that played a role in causing an accident could be held financially liable for the resulting losses.

There might also be multiple parties liable for a MARTA accident. Depending on the particular situation, besides the bus driver, the bus line or local city might also be liable for the accident. If another motor vehicle caused the crash, the driver is also accountable for it. In addition, if you were a victim of a crime on a MARTA property, the person who caused you harm can be held responsible for your injuries.

The main thing to keep in mind is when you work with us, our Alpharetta MARTA accident lawyers will thoroughly investigate the specific circumstances that surround your case. Doing so will help up determine the exact cause of the accident, and consequently, who caused it.

Damages You Can Recover in MARTA Accident Cases

The losses victims could incur in MARTA accidents could be physically, mentally, and financially crippling. For severe or life-altering injuries, victims might need long-term medical treatment, perhaps for life. This is why MARTA and other parties liable for your suffering should be held accountable under the law. Depending on your exact losses, you can pursue the following damages, which could include:

• Emergency services, surgery, hospitalization, medications, and other medical treatment costs
• Emotional distress, including depression, PTSD, anxiety, sleep disorders
• Pain and suffering
• Lost earnings
• Reduced earning capacity
• Property damage
• Disfigurement
• Temporary or permanent disability
• Loss of companionship or consortium

Sadly, MARTA, along with its team of attorneys, insurance claims adjusters, and insurers, will not play fair and will attempt to downplay the accident and your injuries to reduce your compensation. But with sound legal guidance from our Alpharetta personal injury lawyers, you can rest assured that we will secure the maximum compensation you truly deserve.

Reach Out to Our Skilled Alpharetta MARTA Accident Lawyers Today

Did you suffer injuries in a MARTA accident or lost a loved one? Call the Spaulding Injury Law today at 470 509-5772 to learn how you can seek justice and compensation for your damages. You can also arrange your free case review with one of our Alpharetta MARTA accident lawyers by filling out our online form. Alpharetta Personal Injury Lawyers is located at 44 Milton Ave #132, Alpharetta, GA 30009, United States.