Public Transportation Accident Attorneys in Hermosa Beach

California Public Transportation & Rideshare Accident Lawyer

Countless California citizens rely on public transportation and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft to get to work, run errands, and save money on commuting instead of buying and using their own personal vehicles. Public transportation is an essential part of the economy in California and throughout the country. Unfortunately, accidents can happen involving rideshare vehicles, buses, trains, and taxis.

If you recently sustained injuries in a Hermosa Beach public transportation accident, you need legal representation from an attorney who understands the laws as they apply to public transportation accidents. Liability may not be clear in these situations, and some of these kinds of accidents involve public transportation carriers owned and operated by the government. Whether you need to pursue legal action against a government agency, a private company such as Lyft or Uber, or a negligent private driver, the right attorney is essential to a successful case.

Why Work With Hermosa Beach Mass Transit Accident Lawyer

Many accident injury attorneys throughout the Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach areas can provide adequate legal representation for claims involving public transportation accidents, but the South Bay’s premier litigators at McLachlan Law, APC offer a higher caliber of legal representation. Attorney Mike McLachlan has more than 25 years of experience handling civil litigation cases of all types all over the country and brings a breadth of experience few firms in the area can match. Whether your case involves a Hermosa Beach, California public transportation accident or a rideshare accident in Redondo Beach, the team at McLachlan Law, APC can assist in your recovery.

What to Expect in a California Public Transportation Accident Case

If you sustained injuries and other losses in an accident while riding as a passenger in a bus, a train, or any other form of public transportation operated by the government, you likely face a difficult road to recovery. These entities typically have legal shielding from lawsuits or the window in which you must file your claim will be severely limited. In either case, it is essential to secure legal representation as quickly as possible to review your options and determine the best course of action to increase your chances of securing a recovery.

Your attorney will help you navigate the guidelines for pursuing legal action against a government entity. Succeeding in your claim will require extensive documentation, filing the correct forms on time and with complete accuracy, and careful attention to detail.

In the event your public transportation accident occurred due to the actions of a third party, such as another individual driver, you would follow the typical steps for filing a personal injury lawsuit against the third party. You must prove the defendant in your claim was negligent and that their negligence directly resulted in your claimed injuries. The same would apply if you suffer damages as a passenger of a private bus company or other privately owned and operated transportation company.

What to Expect in a South Bay Lyft or Uber Rideshare Accident Case

Rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft have grown incredibly popular in recent years. They provide the public with a competitively priced alternative to public transportation and typical taxi services. They generally offer rides at odd hours, on weekends, and during holidays. While prices in an area may fluctuate based on demand and the availability of drivers, Uber and Lyft continue to be popular choices in Hermosa Beach and throughout the South Bay area.

If you sustain injuries in an accident involving an Uber or Lyft driver, the timing of your accident and how the accident occurred will indicate the liability for your damages. For example, if you suffered injuries while riding as a passenger with one of these rideshare services, the service’s own insurance coverage may provide enough relief to fully cover your damages. Both Uber and Lyft ensure rides, but only while a driver has a passenger in the vehicle. Partial coverage applies when a driver is “ready” in the app but has yet to pick up a passenger. If another vehicle operated by a rideshare driver causes an accident with your vehicle, you would need to determine whether the rideshare company’s coverage applies to your accident or if you must file a claim against the driver’s personal auto insurance policy.

Potential Damages in a Public Transportation or Rideshare Accident Claim

Accidents involving public transportation vehicles and rideshare vehicles can cause severe injuries and substantial economic losses. Some of the most commonly experienced damages in these types of claims include:

• Medical expenses. A plaintiff has the right to pursue compensation for any and all medical expenses resulting from another driver’s negligence. This could include hospital bills, ambulance costs, prescription costs, and any other expenses related to short or long-term treatment for injuries sustained in the accident.
• Lost income. If a plaintiff cannot work following a public transportation accident, the liable defendant in the case might need to compensate the plaintiff’s lost income during the plaintiff’s recovery. In the event the plaintiff cannot return to work at all, the defendant may be liable for the plaintiff’s lost future earnings or reduced earning capacity.
• Property damage. If a rideshare driver or public transportation driver caused an accident with your vehicle, you can sue for the costs of repairing or replacing your vehicle and any personal belongings damaged or destroyed in the accident.
• Pain and suffering. California state law acknowledges that the experience of an accident and the pain sustained due to the plaintiff’s injuries can easily overshadow the economic impact of an accident. Plaintiffs can pursue compensation for their physical pain and mental anguish resulting from another party’s negligence behind the wheel.
• Punitive damages. When a defendant’s behavior is grossly negligent, intentional, or willfully dangerous, a judge may award the plaintiff punitive damages as additional punishment for the defendant.

It is important that plaintiffs in public transportation accident claims remember that the government’s liability protection could mean diminished recovery. Additionally, it is often necessary to go through the insurance claims process before pursuing legal action against a public transportation or rideshare driver. If the available coverage of the at-fault driver does not fully compensate the plaintiff, then a personal injury lawsuit could make up the difference.

Contact McLachlan Law today if you recently experienced a Hermosa Beach, California rideshare accident or any other type of public transportation or rideshare accident in the South Bay area. Our team will review your case and let you know what to expect from a lawsuit.