Gainesville Pays $200,000 to Man Injured by RTS Bus
Through a recent settlement, the city of Gainesville will pay $200,000 to a man who was seriously injured in an accident with a Regional Transit System (RTS) bus in November 2011.
According to the Gainesville Sun, the man was a doctoral student at the University of Florida and was riding his bicycle across campus when the accident occurred. The RTS bus allegedly turned in front of him as the bus driver was attempting to turn the bus into a commuter parking lot.
The bicyclist attempted to stop before hitting the bus, but lost control of his bike and fell to the ground. The bus rolled over him and then dragged him for a short distance. The City Attorney’s Office reported that the man suffered some severe injuries, including complex fractures to both of his hips, a fractured vertebrae, and fractures to several fingers on his right hand.
The Sun reports the man now has “very limited use” of his right forearm and that his medical bills have added up to more than $350,000. The city of Gainesville negotiated the settlement before a lawsuit was filed and the money will come from the city’s self-insurance fund.
When you are in an accident with a bus, it’s important to contact and experienced attorney. While private bus companies are not subject to Florida’s sovereign immunity laws, government owned buses are. That means that whether you are struck or are injured as a passenger on a city bus, your settlement may be capped at $200,000.
It’s important that you hire a law firm that understands the difference and will work to get you the best settlement or jury award possible. If you’ve been injured in an accident involving a bus, call the Gainesville bus accident lawyers at Farah & Farah today at (800) 533-3555 for a free review of your case and a discussion of your legal options.
