Injuries From MBTA Bus or Train Stopping Short

Millions of people rely on the T to get to work and get home safely within Cambridge, Boston and the surrounding metro area. With so many people riding trains and buses every day, it is inevitable that injuries will occur from incidents that occur, and a common cause of injuries is when a bus or train stops suddenly or violently, causing passengers to go flying in any given direction. If you or a loved one was injured when an MBTA bus or train stopped short, contact the Cambridge personal injury attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP today to get started on a claim.

Causes of MBTA Vehicles Sopping Short

There could be any number of reasons why a bus or train utilized by the MBTA could suddenly and unexpectedly stop short. Maybe a bus driver wasn’t paying attention and saw a pedestrian crossing a crosswalk at the last second, forcing them to slam on the brakes. Perhaps a train operator failed to see a switch wasn’t activated, forcing them to rapidly decelerate in order to avoid a derailment.

Sudden stoppages can be broken down into different categories, such as:

Operator Error

The two examples mentioned above would fall under this category, which would leave the driver of the bus or the conductor of the train liable in the instance that somebody was hurt following the sudden stoppage of the vehicle.

Operator error can involve more than not paying attention. An operator may be held liable if it is shown:

• They were under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substances while operating their vehicle;
• If they were overtired and dozed off behind the controls;
• If they displayed reckless behavior such as ignoring signals, excessively speeding or driving aggressively;
• If they were distracted by something and not paying attention to the road or track in front of them – perhaps due to texting or another cell phone related activity.

Organizational Negligence

The MBTA is responsible for a huge amount of passenger vehicles, including everything from taxis to huge commuter rail locomotives. It is imperative that they take their responsibility to keep these vehicles safe and functional seriously, as lives are put at risk when they do not honor that obligation. This extends to making sure the tracks that their trains run on are kept in good condition.

The MBTA may be held liable if they fail to maintain their vehicles, and that causes a sudden stoppage and subsequent injury. For example, if they don’t maintain the brake system of a bus and the brake pads suddenly catch during a routine slow down and cause the bus to stop short violently, this could be used as evidence of negligence leading to a preventable injury.

Don’t let the MBTA off the Hook

Injuries that occur as the result of bus and train accidents can be serious, such as broken bones, lacerations and concussions – or worse. These types of injuries can result in big medical bills and lost revenue caused by time missed from work due to necessary recovery and rehab time. A successful claim can lead to a settlement, which can award you financial compensation to pay for these burdens and get back to your regular life.

The personal injury attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP have over 50 years of experience representing clients who are hurt doing nothing more than utilizing the public transportation they need to get to and from home and work. If you or a loved one was harmed following any incident on any mode of MBTA transportation, give us a call or contact us online to see what we can do for you.

Contact us online or call for a free consultation to go over the details of your case today at 617-492-3000 or toll-free at 800-481-6199. We are available 24/7.