Liability of Public Transit Company in Personal Injury Cases
Broward County personal injury attorneys often argue that public transit companies are liable for injuries suffered by passengers as a result of sudden starts, stops, and jerks negligently caused by the operators of buses and street cars. A bus driver knows, or should know, of the existence of a stop light, and it is his duty in exercising proper care toward his passengers to guard against the hazard of being required to stop suddenly at one. A passenger may recover for injuries resulting when a bus driver, who knew or should have known of a defect in the bus, continued driving until compelled to halt suddenly and violently when parts of the vehicle fell to the street.
Personal Injury Practice Note: A bus company may be held liable for injuries suffered by a passenger who is thrown against a seat, or whose arm is caused to be thrown out of a window by the sudden jerking of the car. A company does not use even ordinary care and caution where it employs a driver who is new at the business and uses the brake improperly, thereby causing an injury.
