One of the biggest advantages to living in New York City and Brooklyn is the abundance of public transportation—the New York City subway (operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority), Long Island Railroad (LIRR), New Jersey Transit, Metro North, and Amtrak.
Millions of people ride these trains every day and rely on them to get to their destinations safely. In fact, the NYC subway system is the largest public transportation agency in North America. In 2021, approximately 2.4 million people rode the subway every day in New York City. There are 472 subway stations, 665 miles of track, and more than 6,455 subway cars that collectively traveled 331 million miles in 2021. The numbers are staggering.
Given just how reliant we are on this infrastructure, train crashes are also fairly common, and serious injuries and fatalities can result.
When a train accident upends your life, The Rothenberg Law Firm, LLP will fight for your future, providing the support and fierce advocacy you need to get the maximum compensation you deserve. Our Brooklyn personal injury lawyers are committed to understanding your needs and seeking justice. Call us for a free consultation today.
Common Causes of New York Train Accidents
Train accidents in Brooklyn occur for many reasons. Here is a look at some of the more common causes:
- Human Error: Train accidents can result from the negligence of train operators, conductors, or other railroad employees. Examples include distracted driving, failure to adhere to speed limits, or disregarding signals and safety protocols.
- Track Defects: Poorly maintained tracks or infrastructure can lead to train accidents. Issues such as broken rails, worn-out switches, or inadequate maintenance can cause derailments or collisions on the train tracks.
- Equipment Malfunction: Mechanical failures or defects in train components or train tracks can contribute to accidents. Examples include faulty brakes, defective signaling systems, or malfunctioning safety mechanisms.
- Signal and Communication Failures: Misinterpreting signals or lack of timely communication can lead to collisions or derailments.
- Improper Maintenance: Inadequate maintenance practices, such as insufficient inspections or failure to address known issues, can increase the risk of train accidents.
- Weather Conditions: Severe weather conditions, such as heavy rain or snow, can impact train operations and increase the likelihood of accidents, especially if track conditions are compromised.
- Obstacles on Tracks: Objects or debris on the tracks, whether intentionally placed or accidentally fallen, can cause trains to derail.
- Improper Training or Supervision: Insufficient training of operators or inadequate supervision of their performance can contribute to accidents. Often we may have to collect testimonials from employees of the transit system to better establish this.
- Third-Party Interference: Trespassing on tracks, vandalism, or intentional acts of sabotage can disrupt train operations and potentially cause accidents.
It’s important to note that investigating train accidents requires a thorough examination by experts and relevant authorities to determine the cause or the combination of factors that contributed to it.
Types of Train Accidents in NYC
Here are some of the most common causes of train accidents. Keep in mind that whether we’re talking about a subway accident or a commuter train, we still consider these to be the most common regarding all kinds of passenger trains:
Derailments
Train derailments happen when a train goes off its tracks. This can occur due to track defects, excessive speed, improper maintenance, or other factors. Derailments can lead to significant property damage, injuries, and even fatalities.
Collisions
These accidents can happen due to signal failures, miscommunication, human error, or other factors. Collisions can result in severe injuries, fatalities, and extensive damage to the trains and surrounding infrastructure.
Platform Accidents
Platform accidents occur when accident victims are injured due to train-related incidents. This can include being struck by a moving train, falling onto the tracks, or being caught in the sliding doors. Platform accidents can result from train operator negligence, overcrowding, or inadequate safety measures.
Determining Fault In a Train Accident in New York City
Determining fault in a train accident involves a thorough investigation to identify the parties responsible for the incident, such as:
- Train Operator Negligence
- Railroad Company Negligence
- Third-Party Negligence
- Track Defects perhaps because of poor/inadequate track maintenance
How a Train Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Assessing fault is one of the most fundamental parts of personal injury law and of pursuing an injury claim. A personal injury case can succeed or fail depending on the level of legal acumen that is
brought to the specifics of your case.
Personal injury attorneys who help recover damages for accident victims know that a train accident is a complex situation and that insurance companies will do anything they can to limit how much they owe you. As such, it is vital that if you or a loved one have been the victim of a train accident, you should consult experienced train accident lawyers who know how to take on these kinds of cases.
The train accident lawyers at the Rothenberg Law Firm LLP have a vast wealth of experience in handling personal injury cases in NYC–whether it be in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island. But they also know that no two cases are the same. A car accident is NOT like a train accident.
A train accident necessarily involves different institutions and different actors than a typical car accident. Consider that a train accident involves you not suing another regular person, but perhaps taking on a government agency, a train company, or some mass transit entity that controls or owns the train. Examples include the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) that owns the subway system, Amtrak, the Long Island Railroad (LIRR), or NJ Transit.
You don’t just need standard personal injury attorneys. You need a Brooklyn train accident lawyer who has an intimate knowledge of how the transit system is governed.
Contact Us at The Rothenberg Law Firm LLP For A Free Consultation
Our Brooklyn train accident attorneys provide guidance, support, and sound legal advice throughout the legal process. We ensure that your rights are protected, and you have the best chance of receiving maximum compensation for your injuries. We have a proven track record of recovering billions in verdicts and settlements for our clients. We are confident in our ability to do the same for you and are here to help you deal with the fallout that comes from an accident.
Call today for a free consultation so we can initiate a case evaluation and give you the legal advice you need to recover. We work on a contingency basis, so there are no upfront legal fees and we do not get paid unless and until we are successful in winning your case.
