In Maryland, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority must present passengers with a safe method of transportation. Any failure to provide safe transportation makes the authority liable for any injuries that occur. Since this failure isn’t based on one type of liability, it is necessary to conduct an investigation. An attorney helps victims review the causes of Metro Accidents in Greenbelt.
Faulty Equipment and Product Liabilities
Faulty equipment used by mechanics can produce a metro accident. During the investigation, the parts connected to the section that becomes damaged are evaluated. The equipment must be assessed to determine if any product used was faulty or presented a risk to passengers.
Operator Fatigue and Excessive Speeding
Transit operators are supposed to adhere to safe driving schedules. The federal regulations require the operators to take an eight-hour resting period between schedules. The transit authority cannot force them to drive double shifts according to the federal regulations. The extended operating hours present a risk to the passengers based on fatigued driving. Additionally, drivers must maintain a safe speed when operating the trains. If they are guilty of excessive speeding, they are at fault for accidents.
A Failure to Perform Maintenance
All maintenance services must be performed according to the schedule set up by the transit authority. Any failure to perform maintenance and testing requirements presents a liability for the transit authority. After an accident, the maintenance logs are evaluated to determine if a failure is documented in the records.
Faulty Repairs and Installations
Faulty repairs and switch installations could cause the accidents. These repairs and changes could prevent an operating from switching to another rail when necessary. This can lead to a collision and cause mass casualties due to this failure. All new installations are assessed after these accidents.
In Maryland, lawsuits based on transit accidents are filed against the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority. The findings of an investigation define whether the transit authority is directly responsible. The use of faulty equipment, however, could present a liability against the transit authority as well as the manufacturer. Victims of the Metro Accidents in Greenbelt contact an attorney through Jaklitsch Law Group today.
