One MTA Worker Killed, Another Injured in Brooklyn Subway Accident

 One Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) worker died and another was seriously injured after a subway accident in Brooklyn shortly after midnight on Nov. 3. According to an NBC news report, the incident occurred after a G train pinned both victims as it travelled on a section of tracks between the Fort Hamilton Parkway and Church Avenue stations. The two workers were setting up a track area for overnight repairs.

Ongoing Investigation
A third worker who was also with the victims was not hit by the train. The man who died was identified as a 53-year-old MTA worker. The injured worker, 49, suffered injuries to his torso and is said to be in serious but stable condition. Another MTA worker said both men were “flaggers” who typically go into the subway and light the way for repairs. Emergency crews had to use an emergency exit to get to both victims.
New York City Transit and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of the deceased victim as well as the worker who is recovering from his injuries. Transit authorities said they are in the process of reviewing safety standards with employees and have set down a “safety stand down” order, which means all non-emergency track work would stop.
Dangers on the Subway
Working on the subway can be dangerous. Between 1946 and 2007, at least 238 New York City subway workers were killed on the job, according to numbers provided by New York City Transit. Just between 1946 through 1959, 120 workers died. Between 2000 and 2007, nine workers have been killed. Victims killed in such accidents included track workers, train operators, conductors, token booth clerks and electrical workers. The most common cause of workers’ deaths in the subway is being struck by a train. The injuries that can occur in such types of accidents range from broken bones to severe brain and spinal cord trauma, amputations and internal organ damage.
More than two dozen workers have also died after they were electrocuted on the third rail. Falls contributed to several deaths as well. One death that occurred in 1949 bears a striking resemblance to the most recent fatality. A worker was killed Oct. 27, 1949, at Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn after placing warning lamps on another track. So, it is interesting to note that accidents involving “flaggers” continue to occur on the subway. We trust that NTSB investigators will soon determine why this tragic accident occurred and what may have been done to prevent it.
Injuries and Fatalities on the Job
A serious injury or death on the job is often devastating for workers and their family members because they suffer both emotionally and financially. Injured workers are eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits, which often cover medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. In addition to workers’ compensation benefits, depending on the circumstances of the case, workers may be eligible to file what is known as a “third-party” claim. Such claims are filed against a negligent party other than the employer or a co-employee for significant monetary damages and allow the victim to have two sources of compensation available for his or her losses. Examples of third parties include, but are not limited to, general contractors, construction companies, sub-contractors, property owners, property managers etc.
If you have been injured on the job, there are a number of steps you can take to ensure that your legal rights are protected. First and foremost, make sure you report the incident to your employer and/or immediate supervisor. Obtain a copy of the report for your records. Get prompt medical attention, treatment and care for your injuries. Get as much evidence as possible from the scene including photographs and contact information for eyewitnesses.
Save all receipts and invoices that are connected to the incident and your injury so you can accurately document all of your related expenses. Contact an experienced New York personal injury lawyer who will remain on your side, fight for your rights and help you seek maximum compensation for your injuries, damages and losses.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a work-related 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. Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker (an undocumented immigrant) who was injured on the job – one of the highest construction case settlements in New York that year. A verdict of $3,222,000 was obtained for one of our clients who was injured by a subway train.
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 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 TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/NYC-G-Train-Hits-Kills-MTA-Worker-Church-Avenue-Overnight-Repairs-399781951.html