One person is dead and four others injured in head-on collision involving a SEPTA paratransit bus and an SUV. Police say that the two vehicles hit head-on while traveling in opposite directions on Berlin-Cross Keys Road across from Carpenter Racing Friday, August 23, 2019.
It’s not clear how the accident happened, nor is it known which of five people involved in the crash has died. Both drivers, two passengers in the SUV and one passenger in the bus were taken to the hospital. Witnesses say that the person in the transit bus was in a wheel chair.
Police are still investigating the incident, and no charges have been filed at the time of this report.
SEPTA Crashes
SEPTA, which stands for South East Philadelphia Transit Authority, is the major transit provider for Philadelphia and the counties of Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks and Chester. Serving four million people, it is the sixth largest transit system in the U.S.
SEPTA offers bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolley buses as options for riders to get to their destinations. With over 300 million unlinked trips each year, there are bound to be accidents that involve serious injury and fatalities.
SEPTA Personal Injury Claims
Although we have no idea who was at fault in the above-mentioned crash, when SEPTA is at fault, the injured person has to sue the government to get compensation. In Pennsylvania, this is a problem because of a law that prohibits lawsuits against the government.
The good news is, the same law allows for some suits which includes those injured in a SEPTA crash, but the law puts limits on the lawsuit.
Claims Limitations
The law allows for an injured person to sue for compensation if SEPTA was somehow negligent in the cause of the crash, but it also places certain requirements and limitations:
- Six-Month Notice Requirement: Anyone injured in an accident where SEPTA is alleged to be at fault, must file a notice of intent to make a claim within six months of incident date.
- $250,000 Per Person Cap: Each injured is limited to an individual cap of $250,000.
- $1 million Damage Cap: Regardless of how many people are injured, the law caps all damages from a single incident to $1 million.
Do I need an Attorney?
While there is no legal requirement that you be represented by an attorney to make a SEPTA claim for injuries, it is wise to at least talk to one before you give your notice. There are other limitations that could affect your claim including permanently barring any claim for injury.
A free consultation with a Philadelphia SEPTA Accident Lawyer will allow you to be advised of your rights and get a fair and unbiased case evaluation. Talk to the attorneys at the Pearce Law Firm, P.C., to schedule a consultation. Call the Pearce Law Firm, P.C., today at 215 880 6164, and start getting someone in your corner. You can also contact us online by clicking here.
