How Common Are Train Accidents?

Residents of New York City rely heavily on the mass transit system. For most, it doesn’t make sense to use a car to get around the city when the bus and train routes are exhaustive and run on a dependable schedule.

However, train accidents continue to be a major cause for concern all over the world, particularly in New York. As train accidents increase, the safety of train passengers must be considered. Those who are injured in a train accident should speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. If the accident occurred as a result of negligence or misconduct on the part of train staff or other passengers, injured passengers may be eligible for compensation.

Broken or Poorly Maintained Parts

Just like any machine, New York City trains and rails need constant maintenance and updates. If the Metropolitan Train Authority is not keeping up with regular maintenance, a number of accidents can occur.

Passengers can be injured if the train doors fail to close or close too early. If the controls fail to respond to the conductor, trains collide or derail. Malfunctioning brakes can result in sudden stops or derailments. Regardless of the type of accident, poorly maintained train systems are the leading cause of train accidents.

Train Derailments

In 2017 alone, there were six train derailment accidents in New York City. Many lawmakers and journalists are blaming poorly maintained rail systems for the increasing number of train derailments in recent years.

Thankfully, not every train derailment result in injuries, but passengers can get hurt as a result of trains coming off the tracks, and sometimes their injuries are serious.

Passengers on Tracks

New York City bemoans the ongoing death crisis when it comes to passengers jumping or falling off the platform and onto the tracks. While a small number account for homicides or suicides, over half of these accidents are unintentional.

Sudden Stops

Injuries frequently occur when trains come to a sudden halt, causing passengers to collide with other passengers or lose their balance. Sometimes, a train conductor sees danger ahead (such as people on the tracks) and must act quickly, but occasionally these sudden stops result from a defective part of the train system or a conductor not paying attention until the last minute.

What To Do in the Event of a Train Accident

If you or someone you love is injured in a train accident, you should contact a staff member immediately and ask for assistance. They are required to report your accident and contact an ambulance on your behalf. Make sure that the train staff member also contacts the police.

Ask for help from witnesses of your accident. You should take down their name and contact information so that you and your attorney can reach them after the accident.

As soon as you are physically able, contact a personal injury attorney to help you file a claim against the Metropolitan Train Authority. Since New York only gives you a 90-day window to file your claim, you must act quickly, otherwise, you may be liable for the financial and physical consequences of your own injuries.

The attorneys at Greenberg & Stein have over 75 years combined experience with train accident cases.  In fact, their lawyers teach other lawyers how to bring cases against the MTA, Transit Authority, Long Island Railroad and MetroNorth. For more information about how a New York train accident attorney can help you with your case, contact Greenberg and Stein at 888-411-3966, or visit our website.