DC and Virginia Injury Attorney Doug Landau explains “Common Carrier” and why it is so important

train.jpegA subway, train, railroad, ferry, bus and shuttle service are all generally Common Carriers. They convey passengers without refusal if the approved fare or charge is paid. The second definition in the Blacks Law Dictionary goes on to state that a Common carrier is “One who holds himself out the public as engaged in business of transportation of persons or property from place to place for compensation, and who offers services to the general public.”

Examples of common carriers are: trains, buses, subways, airplanes, Metrorail, airport terminal shuttles, VRE (Virginia Rail Express), Amtrak trains and trolleys. Virginia and DC Metro area injury lawyer Doug Landau notes that money or tickets do not have to change hands in order for a bus or train to be considered a “common carrier.” For example, when transferring from the DC Metro train to the Bus service, the fare has already been paid when entering the subway station, and only a receipt is needed to board the bus at the end of the train ride.

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