Streetcar Accident Injures One in Downtown Cincinnati
It is something we do not see happen very often, but on a recent evening the intersection of Third and Main Streets in downtown Cincinnati was the scene of an accident between a passenger car and a streetcar. According to reports, the streetcar clipped the front end of the passenger car in the intersection and as a result the car hit a pole. The driver of the passenger vehicle was injured and was taken to the hospital for treatment, but the streetcar driver was unharmed in the accident. Fortunately, there were no passengers in the streetcar, as it was currently only in a testing phase as a part of its safety certification process. An eyewitness to the accident noted that he could not tell if the driver of the passenger car was attempting to beat the light or if she was inattentive to the situation, and authorities are still trying to determine exactly what caused the accident. The streetcar driver will be required to have drug and alcohol testing as part of the procedure to determine the cause of the accident. A representative for the streetcar system noted the importance of exercising extra care around the streetcars and emphasized that the vehicles are heavy and need some extra room to stop and turn.
The Benefits Of Public Transportation
It is hard to argue that public transportation is not a valuable benefit, particularly for those living in more urban areas. Public transportation comes in all forms and varieties – on land there are buses and subways, streetcars, trolleys and cable cars, and commuter trains, by water there are water taxis and ferries, and above the ground one may even have access to monorails and trams. Public transit ridership keeps increasing as more people attempt to cut transportation and commuting costs and make use of opportunities to help save gas and the environment. According to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), public transit is used for 10 billion trips by riders each year. Other ways in which public transportation benefits society include offering people who may not have their own transportation a less expensive and convenient way to get to work, school, or appointments; it also benefits the economy by providing job opportunities for countless people involved in public transportation systems. Not the least of all of the benefits of public transportation is the reduced stress on the environment, as the lower congestion helps to improve air quality and noise levels.
What About the Risks?
For all the positive aspects and benefits of public transportation, the risks associated with it cannot be overlooked or denied. One of the biggest dangers involved in using public transportation is the risk to personal safety. Though while using our public transportation systems in the United States we enjoy a higher level of safety than elsewhere in the world, no system is completely free of risk. Women, in particular, are at much higher levels of risk in many Latin American countries than in more developed cities in North America, Europe, and Asia. Even besides the personal safety issues associated with criminal activities that can take place on public transportation, riders must place their safety and wellbeing in the hands of public transit employees – people they do not know, whose habits and behavior is unknown to them as well. In doing so, riders are forced to trust that the public transit employees have been trained to do their jobs safely and that they will act in a professional and competent manner in performing their jobs. Looking at public transportation systems overall, there is any number of factors that could work against a smooth and safe operation of the system including poor hiring practices, inadequate training, inadequate levels of security personnel, and bad driving behavior such as driving while intoxicated, distracted driving, or driving while fatigued. Looking beyond personnel-related safety issues, other concerns that can impact safety of public transportation systems may include poor maintenance of the transportation system itself or a failure to notice and remove defective or malfunctioning vehicles from the system before they contribute to an accident. Government agencies such as the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration on a federal level and others on state and local levels work hard towards implementing and maintaining safety programs designed to improve safety on public transportation.
Public Transportation Accident Rates – How Do They Compare to Other Accident Rates?
The Department of Transportation, as one may imagine, keeps records of all accidents that take place throughout the country and has been doing so for years. A quick review of their chart of accident rates shows that accidents involving passenger cars and light trucks are – by far – the most often involved in motor vehicle accidents. Accidents involving other modes of transportation, however, do occur with some frequency – and when they do, injuries from very mild to quite severe can result. In these cases, it is important to look at where the fault for the accident may lie in order to determine the correct course of action for those who have suffered injuries and losses to recover. Attorneys experienced in a wide variety of accident cases are the best sources for information about how to proceed in these situations.
The Ohio Car Accident Lawyers – Your Choice For Motor Vehicle Accident Representation
When you are injured in a motor vehicle accident of any type – whether it involves passenger cars, commercial trucks, or public transportation vehicles – you are entitled to recover for the losses you suffer as a result. An experienced attorney will review the facts of your case to determine the best way to proceed to obtain the best possible results for you. The attorneys at the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers have the level of experience that gives them an edge when dealing with any type of accident case. Our legal professionals explain your rights and responsibilities under Ohio law so that you have a solid understanding of what may happen throughout the course of your case. You can count on the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers ’s attorneys and professional staff to work tirelessly with your best interests in mind from the start to finish of your case. Let us help you – contact the Ohio Car Accident Lawyers today to schedule your consultation and get started towards a full recovery.
