Millions of Americans each day use the subway is a primary means of transportation. For many, the subway is a convenient and quick mode of transportation to work, shopping, entertainment or to visit with friends and family. And, for the most part, subway travel is quite safe and cost effective. However, many subway systems and their infrastructure across the country are aging, and may require significant repairs and/or upgrades.
An additional concern for subway passengers is robbery, assault, rape, slip and falls and malfunctioning equipment. Unsuspecting travelers have unfortunately become a common target for thieves and vandals. Substandard walkway, ramp and curb conditions have caused unnecessary slips, trips and falls. If you or someone you know has been involved in an incident involving a train or subway, you may be able to recover a significant monetary reward for your injuries.
A subway accident isn’t just about a train crashing or derailing. It’s also about people being injured while waiting on the platform, falling onto the rails, falling on the stairwell that leads to the subway platform, running, and other mishaps that happen in a subway. A subway accident can result in very serious injuries. The most common types of injuries sustained in a subway accident are back/neck injuries, and soft tissue injuries (muscle strains, bruising, etc.). The most common reason for these types of subway injuries are slip-and-trip incidences that happen during boarding, unloading and while the train is in motion. A subway accident can stem from a variety of circumstances, such as:
- Operator negligence
- Turn style injuries
- Electrocutions
- Closing Doors
- Sudden Stops
- Subway car crashes
- Negligent security
- Broken stairs or platforms
- Broken escalators
- Electrical malfunctions
- Broken or malfunctioning equipment
- Failure to maintain subway car, platform, or station
- Poor lighting
- Wet, snowy, or slippery floors
- Obstructed walkways
- Failure to post warning signs
Commuter Subways and subways are a common mode of transportation in New York and in many larger cities across the US. People generally feel that traveling by Subway is a safe, but accidents do happen. Malfunctioning Subways, conductor error, dangerous Subway platforms and the like can cause injury. If you have been hurt while riding a Subway, the Subway may be held liable for your injuries.
Train and subway accidents are usually caused by poorly maintained tracks or errors on the part of train conductors and train engineers. In the aftermath of a derailment or chemical spill, investigators are often reluctant to say anything given questions of liability and the likelihood of lawsuits on the part of injury victims. Consequently, key evidence and information regarding an accident may only be available to Amtrak investigators, Chicago’s CTA personnel, New York City’s MTA or those from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Since these investigations are not subject to review from a higher governmental authority or citizen’s watch group, the conclusions reached may not be supported by ALL the evidence available.
New York City Subway Accident Lawyers
New York City’s subway system is governed by the MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority). This is a governmental body and since this type of lawsuit involves suing a municipal authority, there are strict time limits that apply for the filing of a written claim and the commencement of a law suit. Generally speaking, a written notice of claim must be filed within 90 days from the date of the accident, or the claim will have no legal standing. The failure to file a timely claim can be fatal. It is therefore essential that an experienced attorney be retained, as soon as possible following the date of the accident to protect your rights.
In New York City, there are several options open to the public for travelling by rail – Metro North, Long Island Railroad, Amtrak, New York City Subway, PATH Train, and Port Authority Train among them. An accident occurring on any of these train or subway systems can cause personal injury – spinal cord injury, brain injury, slip-and-fall injury – and even wrongful death for passengers and train employees alike.
