A 21-year-old woman described by her family as an aspiring actress was killed in a subway accident on April 20. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the victim was pulled to her death by the train at the Union Square station in Manhattan, marking the second time a rider has been dragged to death on a platform this year. The woman was on the platform waiting for the downtown 6 train in the early morning hours when she came into contact with a train. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials said she got caught between the train car and the platform and was pulled under the train. She died at the subway station.
Lack of Barriers
The platform was not crowded at the time, officials said. In February, a 39-year-old man was killed after a subway train dragged him into a tunnel at the Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. Initial reports had indicated that his bag had got caught in a moving train and dragged him under. But, an MTA official later told the Journal that the bag did not cause the man to get caught on the train and that he was pulled into a staircase and then into a tunnel where he struck an electrical power control box. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In other large cities such as Paris and London, subway systems have barriers on the platform that can stop riders from falling onto the tracks. However, New York is lacking such a system. A pilot program, which would’ve tested these types of barriers at the Third Avenue L train station in Manhattan was put off last June. Adding barriers can also pose practical challenges in some lines that run several models of subway cars whose doors don’t always line up. Seven people have died while walking or riding between subway cars in 2018, up from five in 2017.
Potential Liability Issues
There are a number of parties that may be held potentially liable for a subway accident. If the accident occurred as a result of poor design and maintenance of the tracks or trains, the New York City Transit Authority can be held liable. However, if negligent (careless) employees caused the accident or if the accident occurred as the result of lack of safety measures at the train stations, the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) can be held liable. The MTA can also be held responsible if the driver was not properly trained or certified. In addition, the New York City Transit Authority can be held liable for those items mentioned above.
If you have been injured in a New York City subway accident, you may be wondering what your claim is worth. The amount of damages to which you are entitled in a subway accident largely depends on the nature and extent of your injuries and the types of losses you have sustained. If you suffered major injuries that left you with permanent disabilities, your claim will be worth a lot more than if you suffered relatively minor injuries.
Injured victims can seek compensation for damages including, but not limited to, medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, lost earning capacity, cost of long-term treatment and care, rehabilitation costs, permanent injury, disability, past and future pain and suffering, etc. An experienced New York personal injury lawyer will be able to factor in damages such as lost future income, loss of livelihood and loss of life’s enjoyment, etc. which are often challenging to calculate.
Contacting an Experienced Subway Accident 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.
For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. 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. We recovered a $3,222,000 verdict for our client despite being advised by a well-respected judge to settle the case for $90,000.
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 and medical malpractice 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.
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: https://www.wsj.com/articles/subway-train-drags-woman-to-death-11555892150