Platform injuries while waiting for a bus or a train can happen. From slip and falls to assaults, a bus stop or train platform isn’t always safe. If you’re injured at a bus stop or on a train platform in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, you may have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit for damages. Here’s what you need to know about determining liability.
How did the accident occur?
The most important question regarding liability is determining how your accident occurred and the type of accident. Common accidents that may occur while waiting for a bus or a train include:
- A slip, trip or fall
- Being pushed onto the train tracks
- An assault
- Being hit by an oncoming vehicle (bus or car)
If someone else was directly responsible for your accident, then this person or entity will be held liable if negligence can be proven.
Examples of Negligence While Waiting for a Bus or Train
Some accident types, like slip and falls, occur regardless of another person’s action – clumsiness, a medical condition or a simple misstep may be to blame. However, other slip and fall accident types occur only as a result of another person’s/party’s negligence.
For example, lack of handrails, uneven walking surfaces, broken stairs, cracks in the platform or unshoveled snow/ice all can contribute to a slip and fall. If negligence was the cause of your accident, then the negligent party will be liable. Often, this is a city or a private corporation.
If your injuries occurred during an assault, then the person who assaulted you may be held liable. The same thing is true for an accident involving a vehicle — the driver of the vehicle at the time of collision may be to blame.
Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit for Damages
If you’ve been injured because of another person’s actions while waiting for a bus or train, you have the right to file a personal injury lawsuit. In both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations to do so is two years.
To recover damages, you’ll have to prove negligence. This requires gathering evidence, and building a case that establishes that your injury would not have occurred but for the actions of the at-fault party. Proving negligence can be complex. At Cordisco & Saile LLC, our attorneys can help. To learn more and get started on filing your claim today, call our offices now at 215-642-2335 or contact us online.
