NTSB Investigation: 2010 Staten Island Ferry Accident Caused by Technical Malfunction

A federal investigation has revealed the ferry accident on May 8, 2010 in Staten Island, New York, was caused by a technical malfunction. According to a CNN report, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the crash occurred because of a malfunction of a solenoid, which is part of the propulsion control unit on the ferry’s bridge. The malfunction meant one of the ship’s propellers did not respond to propulsion commands coming from the crew.
Three people were seriously injured and 47 others were hurt in the accident. The NTSB study found the crew was not at fault in this accident because they could not have known about the problem. The ferry was not required to have any kind of warning system in place that would alert the crew to any issues, which the investigation found may have prevented such an incident. The NTSB investigation is also recommending that the U.S. Coast Guard require all passenger vessels to be equipped with an alarm that would warn them about similar issues. They also recommend that all older vessels be retrofitted, if possible. The same ferry had been involved in a crash in 2003 in which 11 people were killed and 70 were injured.
According to the New York City Department of Transportation (NYDOT), every day of the work week, 65,000 people take the ferry across the water between Staten Island and Manhattan. The 5.2-mile waterway sees more than 35,000 ferry trips every year.
Public transportation is part of everyday life for many New Yorkers. The city has a wide array of buses, subways, ferries and taxicabs that serves millions of people every day. The crew and the companies that run the ferries are responsible for safely transporting their passengers. Mass carriers — both public and private — are expected to always exercise the utmost duty of care to make sure they are getting their passengers to their destination safely.
Even when a crew is following all safety requirements, accidents can still happen. A malfunction or defect can sometimes cause devastating public transportation accidents. The agency responsible for running and maintaining any ferry, bus, subway or taxicab could be held liable if there is an accident because of a faulty part or some procedure that was not followed.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a New York transportation accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. We have more than 40 years of experience and have helped accident victims and their families recover millions of dollars in compensation. Please call our offices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help with personal injury cases in 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.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: CNN