Car Accidents Involving Public Transportation in Gulfport

If you have injuries from a car accident involving public transportation, contact the team at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC. Public transportation accidents can involve several liable entities. Whether it’s a government agency, transportation driver, or maintenance crew, holding the at-fault party accountable comes with its own challenges.

Our attorneys can help you file a personal injury claim against the responsible entities to demand financial compensation for your losses. We are highly familiar with accident claims involving mass transit and can guide you through the legal process to pursue justice. Contact us today to speak to a Gulfport car accident lawyer about your public transportation accident case.

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Public Transit in Gulfport and How Accidents Happen

The majority of public transportation in Gulfport and surrounding counties is provided by the Coast Transit Authority, which operates a network of buses in the city. Other public transit options in the Gulfport region could include trains, private buses, and rideshare services. Car accidents with public transportation vehicles happen for several reasons, including:

• Driver negligence – Public transportation operators may drive unsafely or ignore traffic laws, resulting in collisions with nearby traffic.
• Road conditions – Negligent maintenance or design can cause bad road conditions that contribute to accidents.
• Mechanical failures – Public transportation crashes may also happen due to mechanical failures with brakes, tires, and other parts.
• Third parties – Other parties, such as construction crews and other drivers, can create unsafe conditions or road obstructions that contribute to accidents.

Why Hiring a Gulfport Car Accident Attorney Is Critical

After an accident with public transportation, it can be difficult to know what to do and where to turn. Your injuries might create expensive medical bills and leave you unable to work. The last thing you need is dealing with insurance companies, lawsuits, and the complex process of navigating claims against government entities.

The attorneys at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC can manage the entirety of your claim, from start to finish. We understand how difficult life can be after an injury and will do everything in our power to take the legal burden off your shoulders. We can organize your medical records, calculate your losses, file necessary forms, and represent you during the claims and lawsuit process. We’ll handle all the legal legwork so you can focus on healing and taking back your life.

Special Legal Challenges in Gulfport Transit Cases

There are a few legal challenges particular to public transportation accidents and injuries:

• Government transit entities – Public transportation is typically owned and operated by government entities. When the government is at fault, it raises additional liability complications and filing requirements.
• Serious injuries – Public transportation accidents are highly destructive and can cause severe harm, resulting in expensive medical bills and high-value lawsuits. When there’s that much money on the line, insurance companies will be more reluctant to pay up.
• Multiple parties – Public transportation carries several people, and collisions might involve several drivers. This makes it difficult to recreate accident dynamics and assess injury liability.

Because these cases are so complex, it’s particularly helpful to have an experienced Gulfport personal injury attorney on your side who can help you pursue maximum compensation.

Who Can Be Held Liable After a Public Transportation Crash?

Several parties can be liable for car accidents involving public transportation, such as:

• Public transportation drivers – When the driver of a bus, train, rideshare, or other type of public transportation causes a crash due to their negligence, they can be held accountable.
• Government agencies – The Coast Transit Authority and other government agencies can be liable for collisions resulting from their negligent vehicle operators, inadequate vehicle upkeep, poor road maintenance or design, and improper hiring practices.
• Transportation companies – Private transportation and rideshare companies can be held responsible for accidents involving their employees and rideshare drivers, as well as for negligent vehicle maintenance.
• Vehicle manufacturers and maintenance providers – If the crash happened due to defective vehicle parts, the manufacturer or maintenance crew can be at fault for injury-related losses.
• Other parties – Any other party whose negligence led to the accident and your injuries can be found liable for a public transportation car wreck.

Negligence from multiple parties can contribute to accidents with public transportation. A skilled Gulfport car accident attorney can conduct a thorough investigation to identify each at-fault party and hold them accountable.

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Types of Compensation Victims May Recover

Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to seek compensation for the following types of losses after a car accident involving public transportation:

• Medical bills and continuing medical expenses
• Long-term care and rehabilitation costs
• Lost wages for missed work while recovering
• Differences between pre- and post-injury expected lifetime earnings
• Miscellaneous injury expenses (e.g., transportation, childcare, etc.)
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Lost quality of life

Statute of Limitations & Filing Deadlines

Mississippi’s general time limit on filing personal injury lawsuits is three years (3) from the accident date. However, public transportation cases usually involve government entities. These cases, such as a Coast Transit Authority accident claim, come with a much shorter time limit.

Mississippi law only gives you one year from the injury date to sue a government entity. You also must submit a notice of claim to the relevant government entity at least 90 days before filing a lawsuit. Once you submit notice, you can file a claim after 95 days or when the agency denies your claim, whichever comes first. The one-year counter is paused during the waiting period after submitting a notice.

It’s important to note that filing a notice of claim is not the same as filing a lawsuit. If the government denies your notice, you must file a separate lawsuit within a year to seek financial compensation. An experienced attorney can help initiate your claim in a timely manner and meet all filing requirements and deadlines for a Mississippi public transport accident lawsuit.

Talk to Our Gulfport Public Transportation Accident Lawyers Today

The dedicated attorneys at Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC collectively have decades of legal experience helping injured people across Mississippi. Although each case is different and past results cannot guarantee future outcomes, our efforts have resulted in securing successful verdicts and settlements for car accident victims and many positive testimonials from happy clients.

We can work to hold public transportation entities accountable for their wrongdoing and help you pursue the compensation you need to recover and rebuild. We fight zealously for our clients and will use every available resource and strategy to protect your interests and well-being.

Contact our offices at (228) 872-8752 or use our contact form to discuss your case with a Gulfport bus accident lawyer today.