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Millions of commuters rely on the Southeast Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) for travel. Many people rightfully worry about being injured in an accident while traveling. Accidents include crashes, vehicle defects, spills on the floor of stations, failure to maintain station facilities, absence of sufficient security and lack of personal safety equipment such as seat belts. But this also includes physical or sexual assault that occurred while riding SEPTA. Transportation authorities are responsible for protecting their passengers. If you have been assaulted while riding SEPTA, a skilled Philadelphia SEPTA accident attorney can secure compensation for your injuries.
Stay Alert and Minimize Distractions
Sexual assault and violent attacks are all too common in stations and while riding public transportation. Riders need to be aware of their surroundings. They should pay special attention to anyone who appears to be excessively watching or observing them. Many riders use technology to keep them occupied while traveling. Phones, earbuds, and tablets make for a distracted passenger. Technology is wonderful because it makes it possible to do work, search the internet, text, talk, listen to music, email, and search the internet. But all of these activities are distractions that affect your awareness of your surroundings.
If You See Someone or Something Suspicious, Report It
Most riders use public transportation to travel the same route every day. They become familiar with the stations, employees, and their fellow riders. If these riders are alert, they are more likely to spot anyone or anything that seems out of place. However, riders should not let the familiarity of their daily commute make them too comfortable. Following the same daily transit routine becomes so familiar that many riders go through the motions and are not fully aware of their surroundings. Passengers should remain alert for suspicious people and objects. Riders who are truly concerned about a suspicious person should calmly and discreetly inform a uniformed SEPTA employee or a police officer. Riders should not take it upon themselves to confront a suspicious person. They can also use their cellphone to access the SEPTA transit watch application to alert authorities of suspicious behavior or objects without drawing attention to themselves.
Determine if SEPTA is Liable for Your Sexual Assault
Commercial and public transportation companies owe a duty of care to provide reasonable security at stations, loading stops, and on buses and trains. If you are a victim of sexual assault while riding a common carrier including boarding and disembarking, call van der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin. Sexual assault victims should set up a consultation to speak in detail about their sexual assault that occurred while riding SEPTA. A SEPTA attorney can help you determine whether SEPTA is liable for injuries incurred during a physical or sexual assault while riding public transportation. If SEPTA is liable, you are entitled to compensation for your injuries. An experienced Philadelphia SEPTA accident litigator can handle the substantial legal and procedural particularities involved in a SEPTA injury.
