Accidents sometimes occur with public transportation, including buses and metropolitan train service. Metro Accidents in College Park can cause serious injuries and leave people with medical bills and no income for a long period of time. Trying to acquire a reasonable amount of financial compensation from a public transportation service can be even more difficult than negotiating a settlement with an individual’s automotive insurance company.
The Details
Metro Accidents in College Park and elsewhere are not as common as those between passenger vehicles. They occur for a variety of reasons. Two trains may collide, for example, and a bus may slide on an icy road and hit another vehicle.
A street supervisor from the transport agency is sent to the location to make a detailed report. That report is relied on by the agency to help determine exactly what happened and who was primarily at fault.
Settlements and Litigation
An attorney from a firm such as Jaklitsch Law Group can help an injured person acquire financial compensation for various factors connected with the accident. They work to negotiate an agreement with the insurer or bring the case to trial in litigation.
Insurance companies usually want to avoid trial because of the risk that a jury will award the plaintiff a very large sum. Individuals usually would rather settle as well because the process is significantly faster and there is no risk that the jury would side with the transport company.
Economic and Intangible Aspects
The lawyer will ask for compensation to cover all medical expenses, including physical therapy, rehabilitation, adaptive equipment and reconstructive surgery if necessary. If the person cannot drive because of the injuries and needs to take a taxicab to appointments, those payments should be covered. If childcare or housekeeping service is needed, those expenses should be paid by the insurer.
Payment for lack of income due to the injuries and recovery also should be provided. If the person has a reduced ability to earn the same income after recovery, that should be addressed as well.
Intangible aspects, legally referred to as noneconomic damages, also may qualify for compensation. Examples include physical pain and suffering, and emotional trauma.
