City Bus Accidents

Taking a city bus is becoming a more efficient and cost-saving option for residents of South Florida in getting to and from work, as well as other places. However, due to the lack of seatbelts, as well as more and more passenger capacity being added to buses, the possibility of city bus passengers sustaining injuries is also potentially increasing. Other motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists are also susceptible to harm if they are involved in a collision with a city bus. Miami bus accident lawyer Robert Dixon helps victims of these crashes pursue legal action against those who are responsible. Various parties may be liable for injuries arising from a city, tour, or school, bus accident, and more than one victim is also usually involved. As such, these cases could be more complicated to handle than those of accidents between passenger vehicles. Mr. Dixon and his staff at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon offer experienced and knowledgeable legal representation for those pursuing personal injury or wrongful death claims in the aftermath of a city bus accident. Our firm assists clients throughout South Florida, including in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. If you have questions regarding your legal rights and options after an injury you suffered in a city bus accident, contact our office to schedule a free consultation.

Public transit vehicles, including city buses, are owned and operated by common carriers, which are subject to state and federal regulations. Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), formally Miami-Dade Transit, is the largest transit system in the state and provides public transit to the area, including operation of city buses. Similarly, Broward County Transit and Palm Tran provide the public transit bus systems in those respective areas.

City buses are a service of the government, making many bus drivers, as well as workers, government employees. As such, when a city bus accident is caused by a negligent bus driver, the government itself can be held vicariously liable for the actions of its drivers. Personal injury or wrongful death suits that arise from city bus accidents are subject to different rules than those resulting from other motor vehicle accidents. In terms of negligence, common carriers have a higher duty of care to their passengers than regular drivers owe to other motorists. In that regard, it may be easier to show that a common carrier has acted unreasonably in causing an injury to a passenger.

However, for a plaintiff to bring a claim against a government entity, such as the DTPW or other transit agency operating a city bus, permission must be granted by statute. Plaintiffs are given such permission under The Florida Tort Claims Act, which allows victims injured in an accident involving public transportation to file suit against the agency responsible as a common carrier. The law also stipulates that plaintiffs must file suit with the correct department in order to be valid, and imposes a four-year statute of limitations. The Act also imposes a maximum compensation amount for victims as well as a maximum per claim. Once liability is shown, victims injured by a negligent bus driver may receive damages for medical expenses, both past and future, as well as loss of income, diminished earning capacity, and, in some circumstances, pain and suffering. Because of the multiple parties and entities involved, as well as the procedural elements that go into cases involving the government, it is advisable to consult an experienced attorney as soon as possible following your accident so that your legal rights are properly protected.

Many people rely on city buses to get to work and other places. However, when a bus driver or another party acts negligently, they put a lot of people in danger. Injuries arising out of an accident involving a bus can be severe, and therefore costly. Those responsible should be held legally and financially accountable for those injuries. Bus accident attorney Robert Dixon assists victims of these collisions with their legal claims, from initial investigation through any resulting litigation. Contact the Law Offices of Robert Dixon at (877) 499-4878 or online to schedule a free consultation and find out more about how we can help. We serve clients in areas including Miami, and West Palm Beach.