RIPTA Accidents

A widely accessible form of public transportation for people traveling throughout the state, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) provided transport services for over 9 million rides in 2022. While the large majority of passengers will reach their destination safely, as with any type of motor vehicle, there is always the risk of an accident while riding a bus. If you find yourself involved in an auto accident with a RIPTA bus or a rider hurt while using RIPTA transportation, seek medical help immediately and then contact a Rhode Island bus accident lawyer. Attorney David Tapalian has been helping people throughout RI and MA for over two decades successfully seek compensation for their damages after being hurt in an accident due to another person’s negligence.

With over 36,000 people using its services each day, RIPTA assists almost every community throughout Rhode Island and operates seven days a week. The more frequent we drive, the greater risk of a crash and RIPTA is no exception. Due to their size, shape, and ability to carry multiple passengers, bus accidents frequently involve a higher number of injured people and more serious injuries.

While the bulk of trips made each day by buses are uneventful, collisions can and do occur on occasion. For instance, twelve people were injured in an incident when a RIPTA bus collided with a Jeep at the intersection of South Main Street and Power Street in Providence, Rhode Island. Many of these injuries involved broken bones and ribs. Another RIPTA bus crashed into a commercial building after hitting a telephone pole in Warwick. Three people were rushed to the hospital with injuries.

Most recently in September 2023, a RIPTA bus and car collided in Johnston when a driver drove head-on into the bus at the intersection of Hartford Avenue and Calumet Avenue. Another serious head-on collision took place in Portsmouth earlier this year when a pickup truck driving the wrong way hit a RIPTA bus injuring three people. In October 2022, a crash took place in Newport when a RIPTA bus hit another vehicle after the bus had trouble braking due to wet road conditions. Newport was also the site of a large crash in 2016 when a RIPTA bus hit a number of stopped vehicles on the Claiborne Pell Bridge. In this instance, the RIPTA driver was cited for three violations.

When using any form of public transportation, you’re placing your trust in the trained driver of the vehicle. Bus drivers, and their owners, are responsible for ensuring the safety of their passengers and other motorists sharing the road. When their negligence, or the negligence of a nearby driver, causes you an injury as a passenger, they should be held responsible for your damages. Speak to a qualified personal injury attorney in Rhode Island to get help with your bus accident injuries. You may be eligible to receive money for economic damages including medical bills and time lost from work, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering. At Tapalian Law, our skilled legal team will gather evidence pertaining to the incident including video footage, witness statements, hospital bills, medical expenses, and lost wages to determine liability and get you the compensation you deserve for your injuries due to a bus crash.

RIPTA accidents can also occur with pedestrians. It’s simple to imagine the traumatic injuries that can occur when a heavy motor vehicle like a bus collides with a person on foot. One of these bus and pedestrian accidents involved a federal court officer being hit while crossing the street and another incident took place when a pedestrian was pinned under a bus and later died from her injuries. When a loved one dies in a tragic accident, certain family members may be eligible to file a wrongful death to claim monetary damages for their loss. An experienced Rhode Island personal injury lawyer can discuss your eligibility to file a wrongful death claim after a fatal bus crash.

Attorney Tapalian has worked with hundreds of Rhode Island and Massachusetts residents to win them money for their injuries after they are hurt by the reckless actions of another person. With his expertise in the personal injury laws of RI and MA, he will ensure that you are treated fairly and work tirelessly to ensure you receive compensation commensurate with your damages. Tapalian Law helps victims of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, dog bites, and workers compensation and offers a free, no-obligations consultation to discuss your claim. Our Providence office is easily accessible with free parking and we are available at all hours, including evenings and weekends to accommodate your needs. To speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer about your bus accident injuries in RI or MA, call Attorney David Tapalian at 401-552-5000, or schedule a free consultation online.