What to Do After a SEPTA Bus Accident

Motor vehicle accidents are all too common. In 2020, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania received more than 104,475 vehicle crash reports, including 61,248 reports of injuries and 1,129 reports of fatalities.

Unfortunately, public transit is not excluded from these figures.

If you have suffered an injury while riding a Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) vehicle or from an encounter with a SEPTA vehicle, you likely have the right to receive damages.

At Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers, we have 75 combined years of experience and can help you recover all the compensation you deserve after a collision.

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Steps to Take After a SEPTA Bus Accident

Were you hurt in a SEPTA accident in Philadelphia? If so, figuring out what to do next can be a daunting task. Below, we have compiled a list of steps you can take to protect yourself and prepare yourself for legal action.

Step One: Seek Medical Attention

Your health is your main priority, so you should speak to a healthcare professional immediately after any collision.

Even if you don’t think you were hurt, the injuries that crash victims sustain often remain hidden for extended periods of time.

You want to make sure that a healthcare professional checks you out right away and that you follow all of their recommendations.

Doing so will help you understand the extent of the harm you have suffered and give you the information you need to hold all at-fault parties fully accountable.

Step Two: Speak to an Attorney

The Pennsylvania legislature formed SEPTA in 1963, and SEPTA is now one of the largest transportation systems in the United States.

Given its background and size, SEPTA can be a formidable opponent in court and at the negotiation table.

Having an experienced accident attorney by your side gives you the best chance of recovering everything you deserve.

An attorney can access critical information to prove SEPTA was at fault for your injuries.

This information can include video surveillance of the driver, accident reports, accident reconstruction testimony, and expert medical witness testimony.

An experienced attorney can also put forth the best arguments on your behalf to help ensure you receive the maximum amount of damages possible.

Step Three: Gather and Save Evidence

The evidence you present is crucial to proving that SEPTA is responsible for your injuries, as well as proving the amount of damages you deserve.

Essential pieces of evidence to collect include the following:

Accident reports,
Identifying information about the driver,
Healthcare reports,
Wage and employment records,
Witness information,
Surveillance,
Information about the vehicles involved, and
Invoices and receipts.

Some of this information is easy to collect on your own, but collecting some of it is best left to an experienced legal professional.

Step Four: File a Timely Legal Complaint

Fortunately, SEPTA drivers who cause injury to passengers and bystanders are not protected by sovereign immunity.

You can file a legal claim against SEPTA the way you would file a typical lawsuit against a private individual.

However, you still need to file your complaint on time, or you risk being forever barred from recovering damages.

In general, you must file your lawsuit within two years of an accident. Two years might sound like a long time, but those years can quickly pass when you are healing and regrouping after a collision.

Your attorney can meet your litigation deadlines while you tend to your health, your work-related obligations, and your personal needs.

Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers Can Protect Your Rights

If you were in a SEPTA vehicle or SEPTA bus accident in Philadelphia, our nationally recognized accident attorneys know how to protect you.

At Rosen Justice Injury Lawyers, we provide one-on-one attention to each client, and we have won millions for personal injury victims over the years.

You deserve a good attorney. If you are worried about being able to afford a good attorney after suffering the devastation of an accident, know that you do not have to worry if you work with us.

We work on contingency, meaning you only pay us if and when we win money for you.

Please call us at 215-999-2244 or contact us online if you need help.