The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has started to install barriers inside some subway stations as part of a pilot program to test their effectiveness at preventing riders from falling onto the tracks. According to a report on Newsday.com, short stretches of metal fencing are now staggered across platforms at the 191st Street 1 station, on both the uptown and downtown sides. The 191st Street stop is the first of four stations to get these new barriers, Newsday reports, adding that they will also be erected at the West 8th Street/Aquarium F and Q station and the Clark Street 2 and 3 station, with more locations yet to be determined.
Preventing Subway Injuries and Deaths
More than 1,000 people are injured each year on New York City’s subway tracks and dozens are killed. MTA’s own study showed that it is rare for individuals to be pushed onto the tracks, but more common for someone to trip and fall. The MTA’s figures show that of the 88 people who died on the city’s subway tracks in 2022, 15% tripped or fell after suffering a medical emergency.
Some of the other steps the MTA has taken to avoid these subway accidents include tactile surfaces that warn riders that they are approaching the platform edge, suicide-prevention messaging and laser detection systems in some stations that warn MTA security when someone enters the tracks. Officials said they are viewing these barriers as a low-cost, practical measure while the MTA looks into more extensive and costlier strategies.
Liability in Subway Accident Cases
Liability in subway accidents can be complex and depends on various factors. Common causes of subway accidents include mechanical failures, operator negligence, and inadequate maintenance. The entity responsible for subway operations, often a government agency may be held liable for accidents resulting from their negligence (carelessness). If the accident is due to a maintenance issue or a defective part, the responsibility can fall on the entity responsible for maintaining the subway system.
In cases of operator error, the operator and their employer can be held liable. Proving liability typically involves demonstrating negligence (carelessness), breach of duty, and a direct link between the negligence (carelessness) and the injuries sustained. Seeking advice promptly from an experienced New York subway accident lawyer is crucial for navigating the complexities of subway accident liability and pursuing appropriate compensation for victims.
Compensation for Victims
Subway accidents have the potential to result in major injuries or fatalities. If you have been injured as a result of negligence (carelessness), you may be able to receive compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income and benefits, hospitalization, cost of rehabilitation, permanent injuries, disabilities, past and future pain and suffering, etc. If you have lost a loved one in a subway accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering and loss of companionship.
Consult with an experienced personal injury attorney knowledgeable in MTA accidents to understand your legal options. They can assist in navigating insurance claims, determining liability, and help you seek fair compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages and benefits, and other damages resulting from the accident. Acting promptly and gathering necessary information will help strengthen your case and protect your rights after such accidents.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured or if you have lost a loved one in a subway accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. In one case, our firm represented a man who jumped in front of an oncoming subway train and had to have his legs amputated below the knees. A verdict of $3.22 million was achieved for our client despite being advised by a well-respected judge to settle the case for $90,000.
For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. We recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and $2,000,000 in a hit-and-run accident, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.newsday.com/news/new-york/mta-subway-platform-barriers-y2ap6fba