Have you been injured in a mass transit accident in York, Pennsylvania? Call Marzzacco Niven & Associates. You may have the right to take legal action against the mass transit company, a negligent driver, or a government agency. Our experienced York mass transit accident lawyers want to help you fight for the maximum financial recovery you deserve.
For years, victims of accidents on buses, trains, and other methods of mass transportation have trusted Marzzacco Niven & Associates to help them fight for life-changing financial awards. As top-rated Pennsylvania litigators with over 120 years of combined experience, we’ve forced government bodies, insurance companies, employers, and vehicle manufacturers to pay our clients tens of millions.
Now, we’re ready to invest the full force of our law firm’s resources and experience into your mass transit accident case, too. Contact our law office in York, PA, at (717) 995-8998 to set a time for a free consultation today.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help You After a Mass Transit Accident in York, PA
Even though you may be entitled to compensation after a mass transportation accident in York, PA, the road to recovery won’t be without its challenges. You must force the mass transit agency and other liable parties to do the right thing. That’s where our York personal injury lawyers can help.
Marzzacco Niven & Associates is an award-winning personal injury law firm recognized for excellence in civil litigation by The National Trial Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America. We’re tenacious legal advocates who don’t rest until the good people we represent have been made whole.
When you ask for our help after a mass transportation accident, we will:
- Analyze results of investigations conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and local government agencies
- Independently investigate the circumstances of your mass transit accident
- Gather critical evidence, such as medical records, accident reports, forensics reports, vehicle maintenance records, witness statements, and photographs
- Hire respected experts and specialists to weigh in on your claim and support your pursuit of damages
- Calculate what your mass transit accident case is likely worth
- Submit your legal claim to the insurance company and, if necessary, file a lawsuit with the York County court clerk
- Force the defense to make a maximum settlement offer during negotiations or take their chances against our nationally acclaimed trial attorneys in court
Whether you were a passenger on the train or bus, an occupant of another vehicle, or a bystander on the street, it’s important to take prompt legal action after a mass transit accident. Choose our York personal injury attorneys and benefit from the award-winning legal representation you deserve. We represent mass transit accident victims in York on contingency. Pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
What is a Mass Transit Accident?
Mass transit vehicles are designed to transport multiple people at one time. So, mass transit accidents are traffic accidents involving mass transit vehicles, such as buses, light rails, trolleys, and trains.
In Pennsylvania, mass transit vehicles are typically characterized as common carriers. Common carriers transport people from one place to another in exchange for a fee. In turn, they assume a heightened responsibility to protect their passengers from harm.
Bus drivers, train operators, and other mass transit operators – as well as the companies for which they work – have to exercise the highest degree of care. As a result, even minor mistakes or errors that might not ordinarily rise to the level of negligence can result in liability when there’s an accident involving a mass transit vehicle.
What Causes Mass Transit Accidents?
In 2022, 6,746 public transportation accidents were reported across the United States, including 698 bus accidents and 54 train accidents in the state of Pennsylvania.
Some of the most commonly reported causes of these mass transit accidents include:
- Operator inexperience
- Operator inattention and distraction
- Drug and alcohol use
- Unsafe speeds
- Sharp turns
- Braking errors
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Mechanical defects and malfunctions
- Operator fatigue
- Following too closely
- Road and track defects
Car accidents involving mass transit vehicles can be complex. Our law firm will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into your crash to get to the bottom of what happened and to understand why. Once we know the cause, we can begin to seek compensation from anyone who shares responsibility for your injuries.
Who Could Be Liable For Mass Transit Accidents in York?
Liability – or responsibility for your crash-related damages – will depend on why your mass transit accident happened.
Potentially liable parties could include:
- The operator of a mass transit vehicle
- The driver of a passenger vehicle
- A private bus company like Greyhound or Amtrak
- Rabbittransit
- The city of York, PA
- Manufacturers of mass transportation vehicles, passenger vehicles, and equipment
- A negligent party’s employer
- Property owners
In Pennsylvania, liability is proportionate to fault. As a result, anyone who contributes to your mass transit accident, even slightly, may be responsible for some of your damages. It’s important to seek compensation from all liable parties to ensure you maximize your financial recovery.
Common Mass Transit Accident Injuries
Mass transit vehicles are much larger and heavier than passenger cars. When they’re involved in a traffic accident, they can exert quite a bit of force on the vehicles with which they collide. The result can be catastrophic for mass transit passengers, pedestrians, and vehicle occupants alike.
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we fight for mass transit accident victims who’ve sustained:
- Amputation injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated disc injuries
- Paralysis
- Neck injuries
- Chest injuries
- Thoracic injuries
- Eye injuries
- Head injuries
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Crushing injuries
- Burn injuries
- Nerve damage
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries
- The wrongful death of a child, parent, or spouse
Always seek prompt medical treatment after a mass transit accident in York, PA. The trauma of your accident might cause shock that masks critical signs of injury. Getting to the closest hospital right after your accident can ensure that your injuries are diagnosed and treated appropriately, which can significantly reduce the risk of complications or death.
What Damages Can Be Awarded to Mass Transit Accident Victims in York, Pennsylvania?
When you file a personal injury lawsuit after a mass transportation accident in York, PA, you’ll be able to request compensatory damages.
Compensatory damages include two different monetary awards: those for your economic losses and those for harder-to-value trauma.
Known as economic damages and non-economic damages, potential awards include money for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and benefits
- Diminished earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Disability
- Property damage
- Costs paid out-of-pocket
- Pain and suffering
- Chronic physical pain
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship
- Reduced quality of life
- Embarrassment
Punitive damages might also be awarded if your mass transit lawsuit goes to trial. If a York County jury decides that the defendant acted intentionally or displayed a conscious disregard for your safety, they can order these additional damages as punishment.
Can Shared Fault Limit My Mass Transit Accident Settlement?
Yes. Pennsylvania’s modified comparative negligence statute applies to most civil personal injury lawsuits involving shared blame. If you share responsibility for a mass transit accident, it’ll limit how much – if any – compensation you can recover from another party.
Damages are reduced proportionately to fault up to 51 percent. So, you should expect to receive 80 percent of the value of your mass transit claim if you were assigned 20 percent of the blame.
You cannot recover damages if your shared fault is greater than half. In these situations, you’ll be left to navigate the costs and consequences of a mass transit accident on your own.
So, do not be surprised when a mass transit company or insurance carrier tries to blame you for an accident. If their claims are unchallenged, it’ll likely stand between you and a maximum financial recovery.
What is the Statute of Limitations For Mass Transit Accident Lawsuits in Pennsylvania?
You’ll typically have two years to formally seek compensation after a mass transit accident in York, Pennsylvania.
The two-year statute of limitations has some exceptions, such as child injury claims or government tort claims.
If you miss the filing deadline, you’ll lose the right to recover the compensation you need to cover your costs and move on with your life.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Trusted York Mass Transit Accident Lawyer
Contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates if you or a loved one have been injured in a mass transit accident in York, Pennsylvania. You may be entitled to compensation. Our York mass transit accident attorneys are here to help you hold the mass transit company responsible for the harm you’ve suffered.
We’re award-winning Pennsylvania trial attorneys with more than 120 years of relevant legal experience. Our determined approach to client justice has helped us win tens of millions in monetary awards.
Discover how we can help you get justice after a mass transit accident by calling our York law office today. Your initial case evaluation is free.