Philadelphia Trolley Accidents Attorney
While the vast majority of people who use public transportation will take the bus, subway, or regional trains, there are plenty who opt for a trolley to get around. Many of these vehicles are run by private companies who lease them out for fun, entertainment, and business uses, but the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) also operates several trolley lines. Unfortunately, being a motorized vehicle that travels in traffic, there is always the risk of crashes. Whether you are a passenger, the occupant of another vehicle, or another road user, you could be seriously hurt in a trolley accident because of driver carelessness.
Pennsylvania traffic crash laws do protect your rights if you were hurt in a trolley collision, so you may have legal remedies if you were hurt or lost a loved one. Our team at the Quinn Injury Lawyers will guide you through the legal process to ensure you receive fair compensation for your losses. Please contact us to speak with a Philadelphia trolley accidents attorney about your situation. We can set up a no-cost consultation to discuss details, and a legal summary is helpful.
How Trolley Collisions Happen
The specific causes behind these crashes may vary, but they generally share a common element: A driver was negligent in operating the trolley. The term is often used interchangeably with carelessness, but negligence is a specific theory of liability in the practice of law. To recover compensation, you must prove four essential elements:
- Duty: With most vehicle crashes, you must show that the operator had a duty to drive with reasonable care, an obligation that applies to all motorists. However, there is a higher duty with common carriers like trolleys that accept money to transport passengers. The driver, company, and/or public government agency must exercise the highest degree of care and diligence.
- Breach of Duty: You need evidence showing that the trolley operator breached the duty of care by engaging in unreasonably unsafe acts.
- Causation: There must be a causal connection between the breach of duty and the trolley accident, such that the collision would not have happened but for the breach.
- Damages: You must prove that you suffered losses as a result of being hurt.
Steps in the Legal Process
The identity of the at-fault party is the key to understanding how these claims proceed, since you may be dealing with a private company or Pennsylvania government body. A private trolley operator will carry business insurance to cover victims’ losses when they are hurt in an accident. You start the legal process by filing an insurance claim. With a SEPTA or other public trolley collision, you will also file a claim with the relevant body.
With both types of claims, you may be able to reach an agreement to settle for a reasonable amount of compensation. If the at-fault party or insurer refuses to pay fairly, you will need to take your claim to court.
Legal Help with Your Remedies
These steps of the claims process may seem as simple as filling out some forms and awaiting payment, but keep in mind that there are challenges when dealing with an insurer. The company may contest the nature and severity of your injuries, deny that the trolley driver was at fault, or try to pin blame on you. If you do need to sue in court, there are numerous legal concepts, litigation tasks, and court procedural rules that apply to the proceedings.
The Quinn Injury Lawyers will handle all important matters involved with filing an insurance claim, as we are adept at developing strategy and aggressive in dealing with insurers. Our team also has extensive trial advocacy skills to represent you in court, so you can trust a skilled Philadelphia trolley accident lawyer to ensure you receive the full amount of compensation allowed by law. You may qualify to recover amounts for:
- Your medical costs for emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, and other treatment for your injuries.
- Lost wages if you were unable to work after the trolley collision.
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress; and,
- Many other losses impact your quality of life.
A Philadelphia Trolley Accidents Attorney Will Support Your Interests
As you can see from this overview, legal help is critical if you were hurt in a trolley crash. To learn more about our services for injured victims, please call (215) 709-8923 or go online to reach the Quinn Injury Lawyers. We can schedule a free case review with a knowledgeable Philadelphia personal injury lawyer.
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