PHILADELPHIA SEPTA ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS

Is SEPTA Always at Fault?

There can be many causes for SEPTA accidents, but unfortunately, many of them are preventable. Many serious accidents occur as a result of errors by SEPTA operators or failures in vehicles that haven’t been properly maintained. Sadly, these failures can lead to injuries for passengers riding the vehicles, motorists and pedestrians in the vehicle's path, as well as SEPTA employees themselves.

Serious injuries can also happen not just along roadways in the Philadelphia area, but also at SEPTA station stops and terminals. SEPTA passengers will often report dangerous conditions like crumbling ceilings, loose wires, and leaking drains that aren’t repaired for months. If a station has not been properly maintained, and those lack of repairs cause a passenger to suffer serious injuries, SEPTA may be at fault due to negligence.

Injuries from a SEPTA Accident

Any accident involving a large bus, train, or trolley can be devastating due to the size of the vehicle involved in the crash. Common injuries from SEPTA accidents include, but are not limited to:

• Broken bones
• Whiplash
• Head injuries
• Internal injuries

SEPTA accidents are often dangerous due to the size and speed of their vehicle fleet, causing serious injury, suffering, and death. If you or a loved one suffered from an accident with a SEPTA vehicle or at a SEPTA property you will need an attorney on your side to fight to get the justice you deserve. Don’t let SEPTA intimidate you into signing away your rights.

Should I Take a Settlement from SEPTA?

SEPTA personnel or third parties may try to get statements from you and get you to sign contracts that limit the settlement you’re entitled to after a serious accident involving a SEPTA vehicle or station. This is one of the many reasons it is in your best interest to seek the advice of a personal injury lawyer before accepting any settlement from SEPTA after an accident.

This is especially true because SEPTA is classified as a state agency. That means there are different rules when bringing a case against them than there are in other personal injury cases. If you wait too long, you may not be able to file a lawsuit against them.

What to Do After an Accident With SEPTA?

The most important step to take is to immediately seek medical care. On top of your health and well-being, it’s vital that you seek medical care right away so that there’s a record of your treatment and your injuries right after the crash. This is true even if you don’t think the injuries are that serious.

There are a variety of serious injuries that may be difficult to detect at first without advanced medical equipment and it’s not uncommon for hidden symptoms to flare up weeks or even months after the incident. You want to make sure you have a record tying any injuries you may suffer to the time of the crash.

Recent SEPTA Accidents

In February of 2022, there were three separate deadly accidents involving SEPTA vehicles within the span of 12 hours in three different municipalities. A bus in South Philadelphia, the Trenton Regional Rail train in Croydon, and a trolley in Collingdale all struck and tragically killed pedestrians. 

These three incidents occurred in 2022, and recent data is still coming in from this year. But between 2016 and 2019, there were more than 14,000 SEPTA accidents reported, raising questions about the safety of SEPTA vehicles and their drivers. 

SEPTA Accident Statistics

The Federal Transportation Administration has reported that SEPTA has a bus accident for roughly every 100,000 miles driven. While it’s hard to understand what that number means out of context, the same report shows that the Metro Public Transit in Houston has an accident for every 1.2 million miles driven, while Chicago Transit has an accident for every 2.4 million miles. 

A rider on SEPTA therefore is 20 times more likely to be the victim of a crash or accident than someone riding public transit in Chicago. Certain routes in the Philadelphia area, such as Route 23, 21, and 47 have had rates as high as over a dozen accidents per month. While SEPTA claims these accidents are usually minor, with every crash, the potential for serious or fatal injuries increases. 

Collecting Evidence After a SEPTA Accident

If you’re in a state to do so, it’s also helpful to collect as many pictures and videos as possible of the crash to add to the evidence in your favor. Statements from other passengers or witnesses to the accident, along with their contact information, will also be helpful if you decide to pursue a case against SEPTA. 

After you’ve gotten medical treatment and collected any evidence you can, your next step should be to contact a reputable Philadelphia personal injury attorney. An experienced personal injury attorney can help explore your unique situation and help you determine what legal avenues are available to you so you can get the settlement you need to get your life back on track after a serious SEPTA accident.

Only an experienced SEPTA accident lawyer will have your best interests in mind. We’ve handled hundreds of personal injury cases and can handle all the roadblocks on the way to getting you the compensation you deserve. An attorney will handle all the communication with SEPTA and fight for you and your interests.