People in Ontario who rely on public transit every day to travel to work and other destinations might have experienced some near misses. These rides are not always fun, and most passengers on buses might at some time have wondered what would happen if they were injured while using public transit. Will they be entitled to file an accident benefits claim?
To suffer an injury on a bus, the vehicle need not be involved in an accident. If the bus comes to a sudden stop because the driver was distracted and failed to focus on traffic ahead, passengers can fall and get hurt. Another possible result of an abrupt stop is a passenger’s head smashing into the seat in front or suffering a whiplash injury. Under other circumstances, a bus passenger can be cut by a sharp edge or object on the bus.
Another question on the passenger’s mind might be what would be the next step after such an injury. The first thing to do would be to report the injury to the driver so that an ambulance can be called promptly. If the driver refuses to call an ambulance, the injured person can make that call or ask a fellow passenger to do it. The police may also attend if it was a crash. Even if injuries seem minor, having a medical evaluation is safe and might help if a claim follows in the future.
If you, a friend or a family member have been hurt on public transit and suffering from injuries and losses as the result of someone’s negligence, contact us to speak to one of our lawyers to know your rights and what steps you should be taking in order to protect your rights for the future. An Ontario lawyer can determine whether there are grounds for a lawsuit or an accident benefits claim. Furthermore, a lawyer can decide who carries liability and who can be sued.
