Accidents in a big city like Philadelphia are an unfortunate reality, and no amount of fiddling with policy or reworking traffic engineering rubrics will eliminate the risks associated with taking your car, motorcycle, bike, or other vehicle on local surface streets and highways. But two recent stories have many local residents concerned. Both involved trains operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).
The first incident happened in Park Side in West Philly on November 18th at 49th Street and Lancaster Avenue at around 7:30 in the evening. An SUV slammed into a Route 10 trolley, causing injuries to eight people. 3 people in the SUV and 5 trolley passengers were sent to University of Pennsylvania Hospital and treated for minor injuries. Fortunately, early reports suggest that none of the injuries was serious.
A second SEPTA accident resulted in much graver consequences, however. An as-of-yet unidentified man got run over by a SEPTA train near Market Street and 34th at approximately 1:04 PM. The Market-Frankford line train slammed into the man while he was on the west bound tracks - reports thus far have not confirmed whether he jumped onto the tracks or fell.
Now, obviously, the SEPTA service provides essential transportation for city residents and the Philadelphia business community. And a Philadelphia accident lawyer would have to make a probing investigation to determine how or whether any of the hurt parties would have legal redress against the city or against any other potential defendants. All that said, it costs nothing for injured victims (or family members of hurt victims or people who have been killed in accidents) to consult with a Philadelphia injury lawyer about best practices.
Often, examining a traffic accident or other injury case is like peeling an onion. As you go deeper into the layers, more nuances are revealed. For instance, the case of the SUV crashing into the trolley may seem cut and dry based on the news reports. But a probing analysis may show that the SUV's brakes malfunctioned, contributing to the crash; or that the trolley driver had been driving under the influence of prescription medications. These subtleties can profoundly influence your potential legal remedies to get paid for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other costs.
Furthermore, an actionable situation may emerge long after the accident. For instance, say you got hurt in a car crash near a SEPTA station and got taken to a hospital to be treated for a slipped disc. Then the doctor who operated on you exacerbated your injury through carelessness or negligence. In that case, you might need a Philadelphia medical malpractice lawyer to help you extract compensation for any follow up surgery you need, time off work and so forth.
Rather than navigating Philadelphia's legal maze on your own, turn to the trusted, experienced, and reputable firm of Rosenbaum & Associates to get a free consultation. Phone 1-800-7-LEGAL-7 now, or explore free and detailed resources at www.rosenbaumandassociates.com.
