Public Transportation Accidents in Toronto

Getting Help After a Public Transportation Accident in Toronto

With a population of 2.8 million and growing, the city of Toronto is a dynamic and bustling metropolis. According to the Toronto Transit Commission, daily ridership now tops 1.69 million. With numbers like this, it’s inevitable that accidents will occur. These might include such accidents as: 

However, receiving compensation for injuries suffered on the TTC can be surprisingly difficult. If you or a family member has been involved in a public transit-related accident, a personal injury law firm can help you to get the compensation you deserve. 

Accidents on the TTC  

There are many examples of accidents involving TTC vehicles throughout the years. These incidents involved various types of vehicles, TTC locations, and circumstances. The deadliest rapid transit accident in Canadian history was the infamous Russell Hill subway accident in 1995, where three people were killed and 30 injured when one subway train rear-ended another. In 2011, a TTC bus rear-ended a flatbed truck with a crane, resulting in the death of a passenger and several injuries. (The driver in this case was charged with negligence and possession of cannabis.) In 2012, a bus crashed into a building at Queen and Peter Streets, injuring three people. In 2013, a van crashed head-on into an TTC bus that was idling on Steeles Avenue East. In 2019, a streetcar was derailed after a collision with an SUV. Sometimes injuries result from falls incurred on the vehicles themselves, when they brake too suddenly or take a corner too quickly. In 2018, an elderly woman died after she was injured in a fall on a TTC bus caused by a sudden stop. Injuries due to slip-and-falls on TTC property, or lacerations from sharp edges inside vehicles are relatively common. 

It’s reported that during one four-year period, TTC vehicles were involved in 18,000 accidents. Nearly half of those involved buses, but some of the most deadly involved streetcars. In a system where TTC drivers cover 750 million kilometres per year, accidents are inevitable. In the decade from 2008 to 2018, TTC vehicles were involved in 264 accidents causing death or serious injury.  

If you have been injured in a TTC accident where the driver was to blame, you may be able to file a tort claim lawsuit against the TTC. If you were riding transit and the driver of another vehicle was responsible for the accident, you can bring suit against that driver. If your accident was caused by the negligence of TTC employees or inadequate infrastructure, you may have a case against the TTC, but if the accident happened due to the actions of another transit rider, you may be able to bring suit against that individual.  

Taking Action 

Any legal action will be based on the grounds of negligence and will aim to address your damages. You may be eligible to claim the following types of compensation: 

Access to certain benefits will depend on whether or not there was contact between the public transportation vehicle and another object.  It’s important to talk to a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible, since there is a limitation period for taking action. If you delay, your ability to make a claim may be lost. With the TTC in particular, you may need to submit a notice of claim within ten days of the accident. 

If you have been injured, be sure to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Many of us have relationships with legal professionals through our employment, or because we sought help for tax problems, with creating a will, or with family law matters. But it is crucial to engage a personal injury law for these types of cases. Only someone who has experience with the insurance industry and the regulations surrounding personal injury cases will be able to navigate the system effectively. Personal injury cases require knowledge of deadlines, specific types of paperwork, and what certain claims may be worth. 

Contact a personal injury law firm today and ask to meet with a lawyer. In Ontario, most personal injury firms offer a free initial consultation, which means that you can ask a lawyer questions about your case and find out more about how to proceed. If the lawyer indicates that you may have a good chance of receiving compensation, you can make an assessment as to whether or not you’d like to work with him or her. Make sure that your lawyer meets your requirements. Is the lawyer a good communicator? If you are unable to travel, will he or she come to the hospital or to your home? If you prefer to communicate in a language other than English, does the firm offer multilingual services? 

Finding the right personal injury lawyer can have a great impact on your life after an accident occurs.