If you or someone close to you gets hurt in a crash with a city bus, transit van, school bus, or other public transit vehicle, your injury claim will likely involve legal complications that do not arise in a typical car accident case. If a public entity owns or operates the vehicle, highly specific laws and claim procedures can stand between you and the compensation you need.
A Greensboro public transportation accident lawyer at Ward Black Law can help you cut through the confusion and pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.
Contact our team today at (336) 333-2244 to get started with a free consultation. We are ready to review the facts of your case and explain your best legal options in plain language.
How a Greensboro Public Transportation Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Claims against government entities follow different rules from standard car accident cases involving privately owned vehicles. If you miss a filing deadline or overlook an obscure procedural requirement, it could end your case before it begins.
The attorneys at Ward Black Law know the rules and how to build a Greensboro Transit Agency bus accident claim from the ground up. When you come to us for help, we can investigate the crash, identify every liable party, and gather the evidence necessary to prove your case.
We can also handle all communications with government agencies, insurance adjusters, and opposing attorneys on your behalf so that you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery.
Why Choose Ward Black Law for Your Transit Crash Claim?
Clients come to Ward Black Law hurt, overwhelmed, and unsure about what comes next. As a Christian law firm, we believe it is our duty to fight for justice for them while also facilitating the healing and recovery they need to move forward. That combination of dedication and compassion has allowed our team to secure more than $150 million in compensation for injured people across North Carolina to date.
Here are some other factors that set our firm apart:
- Decades of experience – Over more than 30 years, our lawyers have represented thousands of clients injured in car wrecks, workplace accidents, and other serious incidents.
- Commitment to fighting for the Davids against the Goliaths – We are not afraid to take on large government bodies and their insurance companies, and we know how to build the kind of case that gets results even against well-funded opponents.
- No fees unless we win – We handle transit accident cases on a contingency basis, which means you pay nothing unless we secure compensation on your behalf.
Here is what one past client had to say about working with our firm:
“The way they welcomed us with warm arms and talked to us…we didn’t need to look any further. They make you feel like you’re family. To me that was overwhelming. They reassured me and made me feel comfortable. I am very grateful to them for what they have done for me.” – Clarence
Common Types of Public Transportation Accidents in Greensboro
Some common examples of public transportation accidents in Greensboro include:
- GTA bus collisions – Crashes involving Greensboro Transit Agency buses on city routes
- PART bus accidents – Incidents involving Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation vehicles that travel between Greensboro and surrounding communities
- School bus crashes – Accidents involving Guilford County school buses
- Accidents involving passenger injuries during transit – Incidents that involve sudden stops or improper securement that cause injury to riders while a bus or van is in motion
- Bus stop and pedestrian accidents – Pedestrian accidents that cause harm to people who are boarding, exiting, or waiting near a transit vehicle
- Multi-vehicle collisions – Crashes that involve a transit vehicle and one or more private passenger vehicles
Understanding Sovereign Immunity and the NC Tort Claims Act
Government entities in North Carolina generally have sovereign immunity, a specific type of legal protection that shields them from lawsuits. Sovereign immunity applies to cities, counties, school boards, and state agencies, though most entities waive their immunity as long as claimants meet specific criteria under the Tort Claims Act.
Claims against public entities like GTA, PART, or Guilford County Schools still require a different legal approach than those against private parties.
To make matters even more complicated, different rules apply depending on which agency you’re dealing with. A single mistake or missed deadline could completely derail your North Carolina Tort Claims Act injury claim. A Guilford County school bus accident attorney at our law firm can determine which rules apply to your case and pursue your claim the right way from the start.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim Against the City or Other Government Body?
Most government tort claims, including those against state agencies and certain school boards, must be filed within three (3) years of the accident, or within two (2) years of the date of death in a wrongful death case, according to the statute of limitations.
Claims against cities and counties that have waived their immunity by purchasing insurance policies follow the general three-year personal injury deadline, though the specific facts of a case can affect that timeline.
Given the complexity of these rules, it is best to contact our attorneys as soon as you think you might have grounds for suing the city for a car accident in NC. That way, we can have plenty of time to preserve useful case evidence and take action within the applicable deadline.
What Is a Notice of Claim and Is It Required?
Many states require injury victims to submit a formal notice of claim to a government entity before they can file a claim against that entity, often within a short window after the incident. However, North Carolina takes a slightly different approach.
State law actually prohibits cities from imposing a separate notice-of-claim requirement as a precondition to a claim. If you pursue your claim under North Carolina’s Tort Claims Act, the affidavit your lawyers file with the Industrial Commission serves as both your notice of claim and as the claim itself.
Just because North Carolina has no notice requirement does not mean you should delay. Given the insurance policy requirements, internal agency procedures, and other practical considerations that might apply to your case, taking prompt action is still to your advantage. Building a strong claim always takes time. An experienced Greensboro personal injury attorney from Ward Black Law can explain exactly what your case requires and make sure you do not miss any opportunity to strengthen your position.
What Compensation Can You Recover from a Government Entity?
Injured parties who successfully pursue a claim against a government body may recover compensation for a range of losses due to serious injuries, including:
- Current medical bills and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent injury or disfigurement
- Property damage
- Other expenses
- Wrongful death-related losses for surviving family members
Keep in mind that most government claims limit the amount of compensation you can recover. The limits vary depending on which entity you are suing. Our attorneys can explain the caps that apply to your situation and pursue every available source of compensation to maximize your recovery.
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Public transportation accidents often involve more than one potentially liable party. For example:
- The Greensboro Transit Agency (GTA) may be liable for accidents related to negligent hiring, maintenance failures, or driver error on city bus routes.
- The Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) could be responsible for crashes stemming from similar issues involving regional transit vehicles.
- Guilford County Schools may be liable for school bus accidents caused by driver negligence or mechanical defects.
- Third-party drivers might be at fault if their negligence caused or contributed to the crash.
- A private contractor may be liable if they failed to properly operate or maintain a transit vehicle on behalf of a government agency.
- Vehicle or parts manufacturers could be liable if a mechanical defect contributed to the crash.
- Government agencies responsible for road conditions may be liable if poor road design or maintenance played a role in the crash.
Our Greensboro car accident attorneys investigate every angle of your case to identify each party who bears responsibility for your injuries. In some cases, you may have grounds for claims against both public entities and private parties for the same incident.
Common Causes of Public Transit Accidents in Guilford County
Many public transit accidents in Guilford County stem from one or more of the following causes:
- Distracted or fatigued driving by bus drivers or transit vehicle operators
- Failure to yield or obey traffic signals
- Speeding or driving too fast for road conditions
- Inadequate driver training or supervision
- Poor vehicle maintenance or manufacturing issues
- Overcrowding or improper securement of passengers
- Hazardous road conditions or poor visibility at bus stops
- Negligence by other drivers sharing the road with transit vehicles
Contact Our Greensboro Public Transportation Accident Attorneys Today
A crash involving a public transportation vehicle can leave you facing mounting medical bills, unexpected financial strain, and a legal process that feels stacked against you, but you do not have to face any of that alone. Ward Black Law has spent more than 30 years fighting for injured people like you in North Carolina. Our Greensboro car accident lawyers know how to hold government entities and other negligent parties accountable for their negligent actions.
Contact us now at (336) 333-2244 or fill out our contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Greensboro public transportation accident lawyer. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you owe us nothing in attorney’s fees unless we win compensation for you in your car accident lawsuit.