What is the common carrier standard of care in a Florida public bus accident claim?

Under Florida law, public transit agencies are classified as common carriers and owe passengers the highest degree of care for their safety. This heightened standard requires public bus operators to exercise more caution than standard motorists. Transit authorities can be held liable if a driver accelerates before passengers are safely boarded, brakes violently without justification, turns recklessly, or ignores road conditions. Proving a breach of this duty requires demonstrating that the transit operator failed to exercise the utmost foresight and prudence. Jeffrey S. Altman reviews transit telematics, driver records, and witness testimony to establish common carrier negligence.