| A common carrier is a means of mass transportation | | | | · Failure to properly maintain transportation |
| of the general public from one destination to another in | | | | units. Common carriers have a duty to regularly |
| exchange for a fee. These carriers include airplanes, | | | | service, inspect, repair and maintain their equipment. For |
| trains, subways, buses, taxis, ferries, cruise ships, | | | | instance, if brake failure on a bus causes an accident, |
| elevators, escalators and ski lifts. Generally, these | | | | the common carrier is responsible for injuries and |
| transportation companies issues time schedules and | | | | losses. |
| set rates for specified routes. | | | | · Driver or crew error. Operators of common |
| A common carrier is bound by Federal and state | | | | carriers are subject to the same high degree of care |
| regulations to comply with safety laws, provide | | | | as the common carrier itself. An error by a common |
| transportation units in a reasonably safe condition with | | | | carrier employee is also the responsibility of his or her |
| competent and qualified drivers and flight and vessel | | | | employer, the common carrier. The majority of |
| crews, use its utmost care in transporting passengers | | | | common carrier accidents are due to operator error. |
| and provide any necessary safety warnings to | | | | Common carriers are responsible for a passenger |
| travelers. The Department of Transportation is the | | | | from the time he or she is accepted as a passenger |
| primary regulator of common carriers. | | | | (i.e. check-in at an airlines ticket booth). This |
| These carriers, however, are not insurers of the lives | | | | responsibility continues throughout travel until the carrier |
| of passengers. They are required to exercise the | | | | has delivered the passenger to a safe place at his or |
| highest degree of care reasonably possible to avoid | | | | her appointed destination. |
| accidents, but are not a guarantor for passengers' | | | | These types of personal injury accidents are often |
| safety. In the event of passenger injury, the carrier | | | | catastrophic. Passengers sustain severe injuries or, |
| remains liable for damages for those injuries if | | | | unfortunately, do not survive. This holds true particularly |
| negligence on the part of the provider is proved. | | | | in airplane crashes or train accidents. Airplane |
| There are some exceptions to negligence liability. The | | | | accidents can occur on take-off, landing, in a mid-air |
| carrier may not be held responsible for compensation | | | | collision with another aircraft or due to air turbulence. |
| in certain situations so it is very important the you seek | | | | Train accidents can range from collision with a vehicle |
| the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney | | | | at a crossing to derailment or collision with another |
| immediately. | | | | train. |
| Common reasons for these type of accident cases | | | | If you have sustained injury or lost a loved one in a |
| include the following: | | | | transportation accident, it is important to speak to an |
| · Failure of the common carrier to follow | | | | experienced common carrier accident attorney as |
| proper safety practices. Federal and state laws set | | | | soon as possible. Transportation accident claims are |
| out safety protocols. Federal administrators, such as | | | | complex because of the number of parties involved. |
| the Federal Transit Administration, Federal Motor | | | | Lawsuits must be filed within a specific time after the |
| Carrier Safety Administration, Federal Aviation | | | | accident or they will not be permitted. If any of the |
| Administration and Federal Railroad Administration, | | | | parties are government agencies, the time limit can be |
| enforce regulations and investigate all serious | | | | very short which is why you need to speak with a |
| accidents. | | | | personal injury lawyer at the earliest possible moment. |