New Jersey Transit (NJT) is a public transportation system owned by the State of New Jersey that operates bus, light rail and commuter rail services in New Jersey and New York. Although it safely transports about a million passengers per day, there are times when its transportation services are below proper safety standards. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident that directly or indirectly involved NJT, you might be eligible to recover damages.
Possible Injuries While Utilizing New Jersey Transit (NJT)
Although injuries might be suffered outside of a train, like in a crash with a motor vehicle or even a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall at an NJT station or platform, most injuries occur inside of the train or bus itself. They can occur from a wide variety of circumstances. Here are just a few of them:
- Failure to slow or stop.
- Crashes with vehicles at crossings or intersections.
- Becoming trapped in train or bus doors.
- Being thrown inside of the train in a crash, derailment or sudden stopping of the train.
That said, if you were injured in a vehicle accident with the NJT and the NJ State Police (NJSP) responded, here’s how to get a copy of your NJSP accident report.
NJT Bus Accident Injuries Incurred in a Car Accident
Buses are large and heavy compared to most passenger cars giving them a significant advantage. The impact is well-absorbed by the steel structure of the bus thus protecting most of the occupants. However, this doesn’t bode well for the occupants of the smaller passenger cars who often take the brunt of the impact.
How the impact affects those involved is often an issue when trying to determine the scope of the injuries and the damages in a car accident. At the Pearce Law Firm, Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers, P.C., we have experience in handling cases against public transit departments and public bus companies when the negligence of their driver lead to injuries for their clients.
Three Dead in NJT Bus and Car Crash in Moorestown
A NJT bus and a sedan collided on Route 38 early Saturday morning, May 30, 2020, killing three. Police say that an NJT bus was turning left when a sedan crashed into the bus. All three occupants of the sedan, a male and two females, were both declared dead at the scene.
The driver of the bus and a passenger were both taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police say that it’s uncertain what caused the accident and that it is still under investigation.
Can You Sue NJT for Injuries?
Many victims wonder if it’s even possible to sue the government if they are injured by one of their employees. New Jersey has a law protecting its employees from negligence-based lawsuits. However, the law also allows the victim to sue the government under certain circumstances.
Fortunately for accident victims, one of those circumstances is the negligence of a bus driver when it causes injuries to a victim of a collision. However, the same law creates certain notice requirements and other requirements that need to be met before a claim can be made.
You Must Act Quickly
New Jersey Transit is a public legal entity. Different procedures are involved in making personal injury claims against it as opposed to car insurance claims. New Jersey law does not allow for a personal injury lawsuit to be filed against NJT unless notice of a claim for personal injury is properly drafted and served within 90 days of the date of the accident. This notice requires the name and address of the plaintiff, date, place and description of how the accident occurred that gives rise to the claim asserted, a general description of the injury, damage or loss incurred, the name of the public entities or employees causing the injury, damage or loss and the amount of damages the plaintiff is claiming. While there are a few exceptions to this rule, a court could bar a lawsuit if you did not file the notice within 90 days. Unless you were a minor at the time of the accident, failure to file a notice within 90 days of the date of the occurrence could operate as a bar against you from proceeding further.
The Holding Pattern
The law allows a government entity such as NJT a six month period of time to review the claim before a lawsuit can be filed. So, a plaintiff may be in a holding period for a while until NJT has the opportunity to investigate your claim over that six-month period. After that, if there is no settlement, you’ll be permitted to file your personal injury lawsuit against NJT. There’s still plenty of time to fit the filing of your lawsuit into the two year statute of limitations.
Don’t Go It Alone
At The Pearce Law Firm, Personal Injury and Accident Lawyers, P.C., we have experience suing public entities like NJT in New Jersey and PennDot in Pennsylvania. We know the laws and the requirements for each state and how to work with the system to get victims the compensation they deserve.
You need to contact an attorney before you do anything, and you need to do it in a hurry. There are deadlines that if not met, can mean that the right to compensation may be forfeited. Don’t try to navigate the minefield on your own, rather leave it to professionals who have the knowledge and experience.
Contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer Near You today
Don’t ignore the 90 day claim notice rule. You can arrange for a free consultation and case evaluation with us, and if we enter into an agreement to represent you in connection with the injuries that you suffered, we’ll professionally and promptly file your claim notice for you. If litigation is required, we’ll timely file and effectively litigate your personal injury lawsuit to its completion. Contact us right away after being injured in any New Jersey Transit accident.
