JATRAN Bus Accident Lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi

While buses statistically provide a relatively safe form of transportation, neglected maintenance and improperly trained or supervised drivers can lead to crashes involving buses.  When bus crashes do occur, the lack of safety features like lap and shoulder belts or airbags can lead to significant injuries.  JATRAN operates the Jackson, Mississippi public bus system that provides city buses and the ADA paratransit bus service throughout the city.  Although you might have a legal claim for financial compensation, a successful lawsuit for injuries experienced in a bus accident requires knowledge of the unique law that applies to these types of cases.

At Kellum Law Firm, P.C., our Jackson, MS JATRAN accident lawyers have experience and expertise in litigating cases involving public transit injuries and fatalities.  When pursuing a claim against a bus line, injury victims must cope with well-funded defendants, as well as the special legal requirements and standards applicable to public entities.  Our law firm has built a reputation in Jackson and throughout Hinds County for a thorough investigation of the facts, persuasive legal contentions, and tenacity in settlement negotiations and at trial.

Special Legal Standards in Mississippi Busing Accident Cases

Although some people might assume that the law that pertains to bus accidents is similar to a routine auto accident involving a large vehicle, special legal principles govern these lawsuits.  Public transit lines like JATRAN that transport members of the public for a fee are designated as “common carriers.”  These transportation providers owe passengers a heightened duty of care.  The public policy rationale for this more stringent legal responsibility for the safety of patrons is based on the inability of passengers to provide for their own safety.  The bus line has exclusive control over vehicle maintenance; driver hiring, training, and retention; and boarding and disembarking procedures.

If you sue a public entity like the City of Jackson, you also must navigate the issue of sovereign immunity.  The Mississippi Tort Claims Act (Title 11, Chapter 46 of the Mississippi Code IMMUNITY OF STATE AND POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS FROM LIABILITY AND SUIT FOR TORTS AND TORTS OF EMPLOYEES) provides a limited waiver of the sovereign immunity of governmental entities, political subdivisions, and public employees like public bus drivers.  Although the statute authorizes lawsuits for injuries caused by the negligence of the public entity and its employees, these claims are subject to special limitations and requirement under MS Code § 11-46-11 (2017).  These special rules include:

  • Providing a notice of claim in the proper manner and form to the city clerk (the chancery clerk for counties) when suing a municipality before filing suit
  • One year statute of limitation from the date of the occurrence of the act causing injury
  • Damages limited to $500,000 in compensation
  • No punitive damages
  • No right to a jurytrial

Failure to comply with special requirements like giving proper notice to the public entity in a timely manner can preclude any recovery against the government.

Common Types of Bus Collision Scenarios

 Because Kellum Law Firm, P.C. has been representing individuals injured in motor vehicle accidents since 2005, we can handle the full spectrum of bus accidents, such as:

  • Rear-End Collisions
  • Under-Ride Accidents
  • T-Bone Accidents
  • Boarding & Disembarking Accidents
  • Bus Driver Carelessness or Inattentiveness
  • Defective Buses and Faulty Components and Systems
  • Collisions Related to Deficient Maintenance

Speak with a Public Bus Accident Lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi

If you are injured while boarding, disembarking, or traveling on a JATRAN bus, you need an experienced Hinds County bus accident attorney.  Whether you have suffered harm in the form of a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury or an injury that will heal like a broken bone or fracture, our law firm pursues the maximum compensation for bus accident injuries.

We can guide you through the special procedures and rules governing lawsuits involving public entities, so call us at 601-969-2709 or send us an email to schedule a free initial consultation.