Almost all of us must, at some point, rely on commercial transportation when traveling. In doing so, we trust that the companies whose services we use will do all in their power to see that we arrive at our destination safely.
Companies that operate buses, passenger trains, cruise ships, taxi cabs and passenger jets are what are known as "common carriers." Basically, common carriers are entities that are in the business of transporting goods or people in exchange for payment.
When a common carrier takes on the responsibility of providing a customer with travel services, the carrier is said to owe the customer a duty of care. This means that the carrier is required to act with due diligence in regard to providing a safe environment for the customer during his or her time spent as a passenger.
Common carriers must adhere to rules that are enforced by various federal regulatory agencies. For example, commercial airlines are obligated to follow the safety regulations established by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Therefore, a company might be held responsible should a passenger be injured due to the company's failure to follow applicable regulations. For example, if a coach bus gets into an injury-accident because of a mechanical issue, the company may be held liable if it is discovered that the malfunction was due to improper maintenance.
If you are injured while using the services of a common carrier and are seeking compensation, you might benefit from enlisting the services of a commercial vehicle accident attorney. Because the onus is on the plaintiff to prove that a company was negligent in its efforts to provide an acceptable level of care, it can be helpful if you have an attorney aid in the gathering and presenting of evidence.