Accidents involving Metropolitan Transportation Authority (CapMetro) bus or MetroRail trains are more common than many realize. The nature of public transportation makes the vehicles used potentially more dangerous than a typical car. This increased danger leads to a greater risk of injury. Austin area residents injured in such accidents should contact a personal injury attorney immediately. The process of bringing a claim against the correct entities can be complicated, and you may need an Austin bus or rail accident lawyer experienced in this area of law to assist you with the process.
Bringing Claims against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Bringing a lawsuit against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, often known as “Capital Metro” or "CapMetro,” can be a complicated process. The process is complicated because CapMetro typically does not employ its own drivers and, instead, uses labor from outside agencies. This means that one may need to bring suit against the vehicle operator, the agency/company employing the operator, and possibly CapMetro itself. It is crucial that you hire an attorney familiar with this area of law as failing to name all responsible parties may lead to an inability to recover damages.
One who has been in a CapMetro accident must identify all responsible parties as soon as possible. The parties responsible will likely include the bus driver if he or she was negligent. Another responsible party would be the agency or company which directly employed the driver. This is due to the fact that employers are generally responsible for the acts of their employees and may also be liable for negligent hiring or negligent supervision. Finally, CapMetro itself may be responsible if they were aware of a dangerous situation such as a driver having been hired even though he or she had a poor driving history. Understanding how different parties may be liable is crucial in such a case.
Once retained, our legal team will immediately begin identifying the responsible parties in your public transit accident case. These efforts will include conducting research through the Secretary of State and through CapMetro itself. Once the responsible parties have been identified, we will begin the process of demanding payment for your damages. If a settlement cannot be reached, we will bring a lawsuit in court on your behalf. We will keep you up to date throughout the process and ensure that you know what to expect as the case moves forward. Contact us today to speak with our Austin bus and rail accident lawyers.