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Amazingly, the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC Transit System) has been in continuous operation for over 150 years, except for a temporary suspension of service during the American Civil War. It was the first public transit agency to implement electric streetcars on a systemwide basis. Today, GRTC provides transportation services to the Richmond, VA area as well as part of Chesterfield and Henrico counties, including fixed local route and express route bus service, paratransit, carpool and vanpool services, taxicab oversight, and more.
With a fleet of 150 transit vehicles, including buses and cutaway vans, traveling over 40 routes within the City of Richmond and Henrico County and operating from 5:00 am to 1:00 am seven days a week, chances are likely you will encounter one or more of these buses while driving Greater Richmond city streets. If a bus accident occurs, it’s important to know that special rules apply to pursuing a claim for compensation for your injuries and property damage. The bus accident attorneys at Latham & Martin offer comprehensive legal assistance for individuals affected by GRTC bus accidents throughout the transit company’s operating area. Whether you’re a motorist, pedestrian, or bicyclist hit by a bus, or an injured passenger, understanding the complexities of these collisions is vital. Reach out to a Richmond GRTC bus accident lawyer for help with a claim.
Weighing five to ten times more than the average passenger vehicle, a city bus can inflict major damage in a crash. Due to their size and weight, even a relatively low-speed collision can inflict catastrophic or fatal injuries to the occupants of a smaller, lighter vehicle. Others who share the road with GRTC buses, including bicyclists, pedestrians, and e-scooter riders, are even more at risk of catastrophic injury or death. As a GRTC bus crash lawyer in Richmond could further explain during a consultation, the size and weight of a city bus also means it takes longer for a driver to stop a bus and is more difficult to avoid a crash, compared to more nimble vehicles.
The process for filing a claim against GRTC is quite distinct from filing a claim against a private negligent driver or their insurance company. Key differences include:
Bus drivers and bus companies owe the same duty of care to others on the road as other motor vehicle drivers do. This includes the duty to drive safely and attentively, to maintain the vehicle in good working order, and to ensure that drivers are properly trained.
Additionally, as a public transportation provider, GRTC owes additional duties to its passengers. Under Virginia laws related to “common carriers” like GRTC transit, bus drivers can be liable for even slight negligence that causes injury to a passenger. This includes passenger injuries in bus crashes that were the fault of the driver, falls during takeoff if the bus moves before passengers are seated, or if the bus stops too far from the curb, causing passengers to trip and fall while getting on or off the bus. GRTC bus drivers should take special care to ensure the safety of their passengers, and the agency can be held liable for injuries to passengers when this duty is breached, so it is important to contact a Richmond GRTC bus accident attorney if you have been harmed.
Accidents involve complex legal considerations above and beyond the typical car crash. Understanding the legal process and how to pursue a claim is essential. The dedicated team at Latham & Martin is committed to offering personalized legal assistance with the knowledge and skill necessary to reach a successful outcome. Reach out to our office to discuss your situation with a Richmond GRTC bus accident lawyer and explore the options available to you. Your consultation is free, and there’s no fee unless and until we recover compensation for you.