Who is at Fault in a Subway Accident?
New Yorkers rely heavily on public transportation systems to get around since the majority of residents don’t own a car and public transit provides a more efficient and affordable means to move around the city. Hopefully, when you board the subway, you will arrive to your destination safe and sound, but unfortunately, accidents do sometimes occur.
The New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) operates some 230 bus lines and 25 subway lines, with more than 4,500 buses in service and more than 6,000 subway cars in active use, and the daily ridership exceeds more than seven million trips. With such an extensive system and such heavy usage, it’s no surprise that multiple subway and bus accidents occur every single year.
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If you’ve been injured in a subway accident, you may be left wondering how this could happen? who was at fault? and who you can turn to for help?
The New York City subways and trains are part of public transit, and the government agencies in charge are the NYCTA and the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). It is the transit authority’s duty to care for and properly maintain all of its subway cars, buses, and trains. Poor maintenance and upkeep of subway cars and stations is the leading cause of accidents among riders. Poor mechanical maintenance can lead to breakdowns, malfunctions and collisions, while poor maintenance of stations can lead to hazardous conditions ranging from slippery platforms or staircases and poor lighting conditions to a range of other hazardous situations. Often times, these subway accidents are due to mechanical issues, but they can also be caused by driver negligence, in which case the transit authority may be held liable as well.
It is important to note that you can file a claim against a transit authority, however, these claims abide by stricter rules and deadlines than those that apply to a typical personal injury case.. This means that someone can sue the New York government, however you must file your claim within 90 days of the accident or you may lose your chance to receive compensation.
We trust our public transportation systems to get us to our destinations safely, and nowhere else in the USA do we rely so heavily on public transportation as us New Yorkers. So when an accident does occur, it can be especially frightening and traumatic. We place our lives and well-being in the hands of strangers, but all it takes is a parts defect, poor maintenance or a negligent driver to put it all at risk.
If you’ve been the victim of a subway accident in New York City, then you need an experienced personal injury lawyer like those at Greenberg & Stein. You may be able to receive compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages, but remember that time is of the essence when it comes to filing a claim against the transit authority. Therefore, it is critical that you consult with an experienced subway accident lawyer in New York City as soon as possible following your injury.
The team at Greenberg & Stein has more than 80 years of combined experience handling all manner of personal injury accidents and lawsuits, including cases involving subway accidents and injuries on New York City’s public transportation system.
Every case is unique, and you can be assured that our team will explore every legal option available in order to ensure that you receive a fair and just compensation if you’ve been hurt while riding the New York City subway.
We offer a free consultation and a 24-hour phone line, so don’t hesitate to call us following a subway accident in New York City. Call us today at 888-411-3966 to schedule your free legal consultation.