Mass transportation provided by SEPTA is a staple of life in Pennsylvania, and thankfully most passengers get where they need to go without incident. When bus drivers stop paying attention to the road due to distractions, however, it is all too easy for a pleasant ride to turn into a dangerous or potentially deadly crash.
Distracted Bus Drivers Can Cause Catastrophic Injuries
The extreme weight and size of a SEPTA bus means that even low-speed collisions are likely to result in severe injuries. Besides colliding with vehicles on the road, stop lights, or other objects, there is a danger to pedestrians and bicyclists when SEPTA bus drivers engage in distracted driving behaviors like:
- Eating or drinking
- Fiddling with knobs
- Interacting with passengers
- Talking on the phone
- Texting or browsing on a device while driving
Distracted driving becomes even worse when other factors come into play like drowsiness or drug and alcohol abuse. Speeding is another major contributing factor to passengers sustaining injuries, especially on SEPTA busses where people are standing or don’t have seat belts while sitting. When distracted driving and speeding take place at the same time, it’s easy for passengers to be knocked down during the collision and suffer injuries inside the bus.
What to Do If You Are Injured by a Distracted Bus Driver’s Negligence
If you suspect distracted driving or some other negligent behavior on the part of the bus driver caused the collision, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible after the accident. Before that call takes place, be sure to also:
- Ask for an incident report card from the driver and fill it out at the scene
- Get the driver’s name and route information
- Talk with other passengers or witnesses outside the bus and gather their contact details
- Visit a doctor immediately to check for injuries and start a paper trail on how those injuries affect you
From there, your attorney can help by procuring all the evidence necessary to prove negligence on the part of the driver and either negotiate with insurance or file a lawsuit against SEPTA.
Don’t Wait to Talk With a Lawyer After a SEPTA Bus Accident
A skilled bus accident attorney with experience in SEPTA cases is crucial to protecting your legal rights and seeking compensation after a bus accident. Set up a free consultation with Heslin Law Firm and let us know about your injury. We want to find out if our dedicated lawyer is the right fit for your case.
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