New York City Subway Accident Lawyer

New York City Subway Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in a subway accident, it’s important to call an experienced NYC subway accident lawyer right away. Someone else’s negligence might have contributed to the cause of your accident. That means you could have the right to get compensation for your injuries from a negligent public transit authority or even an individual who caused the accident.

At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, our skilled NYC accident lawyers have been fighting for victims of subway accidents for over 40 years. We are here to help, so call an experienced NYC subway accident lawyer at (212) 514-5007 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation today.

How an Experienced NYC Subway Accident Lawyer Can Help With Your Case

How an Experienced NYC Subway Accident Lawyer Can Help With Your Case

With 472 subway stations, NYC boasts the largest subway system in the world. In most cases, passengers reach their destination without incident and at a relatively low price. However, thousands of New Yorkers and visitors are injured using the subway every year. Some of those injuries can be serious–and some are even deadly. If you’ve been injured through little-to-no fault of your own, you should demand compensation from responsible parties.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is in charge of the NYC subway system. After an accident, they’re likely to act fast to fix any dangerous conditions that caused the accident. Valuable evidence could disappear–and witness memory tends to fade.

Even if it’s clear that something else caused your injuries, it’s usually difficult to get fair compensation. Our NYC personal injury attorneys will do the work for you and fight to get the fair compensation you need. Our prior results show that we have already recovered millions in compensation. We’re ready to help in your case.

At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, our injury lawyers will:

  • Work with experts and use our knowledge of the law to make sure your case is valued correctly
  • Investigate to find out what caused your subway accident
  • Identify all parties that might be responsible for the accident
  • Fight on your behalf when the person who caused your accident tries to blame you
  • Negotiate with the insurance companies and defense lawyers who will try to reduce the value of your claim
  • Prepare the strongest possible case on your behalf so that we’re ready to argue for you at trial if needed

Filing a claim against the public transit authorities in NYC can also be complex. You have a much more limited time to begin filing your claim–and the MTA will go to work immediately after a subway accident is reported.

To protect your right to fair compensation, you have to act quickly. Call Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule your free case review today. We represent clients across NYC, including Staten Island and Long Island.

Subway Statistics in New York

Subway Statistics in New York

In 2018, an average of 5,437,587 people used the New York subway system on an average weekday. Annual ridership reaches well over 1 billion subway users. Over 50,000 New Yorkers work for the MTA–the public transit authority responsible for keeping the subway system running.

In 2016, the average subway car ran about 112,208 miles without being repaired–up from only 7,145 miles in 1982.

Leading Causes of Subway Accidents

Traveling by subway is one of the easiest ways to get around the city. However, your day can quickly become more complex if you are involved in a subway accident. Our experienced accident lawyers at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers handle all types of subway accidents, including those caused by mass transit authority negligence.

Some of the common types of NYC subway accidents we handle include:

These accidents are caused by a variety of factors. Common causes of subway accidents include:

  • Negligent maintenance of the subway platforms and subway cars
  • Crumbling or damaged staircases
  • Slippery floors
  • Inadequate lighting
  • Overcrowding
  • Defective subway turnstiles
  • Dangers in the vehicle operating system
  • Damaged elevators or escalators
  • Lack of warning signs
  • Signal errors 
  • Sudden stops while the subway is running
  • Malfunctioning subway doors
  • Lack of adequate safety railings or barriers

The New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA), which is operated by the MTA, must maintain the subway system in a reasonably safe condition. Accidents are often caused by negligence in inspecting and maintaining subway cars, platforms, stations, and even the staircases leading down to the subway itself.

The negligence of subway users can also contribute to accidents and injuries. For example, in 2019, 461 cases of “subway surfing”–people riding outside the train–were reported. Subway surfing contributed to at least one fatality in 2019.

Common Subway Accident Injuries 

Some subway accident victims walk away with bumps and bruises. Other injuries can be much more severe.

Our NYC personal injury law firm regularly helps clients who have suffered:

At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, our New York personal injury lawyers can help you get the compensation you need for medical care so that you can focus on recovering.

Time Limits for Filing a Subway Accident Claim

In any New York personal injury case, you only have a limited time to file a lawsuit for damages. The NYC statute of limitations gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The clock begins running on the date of the subway accident–and after three years have passed, you lose your right to compensation.

Notice of Claim Requirements: Actions Against the NYCTA and MTA

The time limits in cases where the government was negligent are much shorter. The NYCTA and MTA are public authorities, meaning they get the benefit of the special rules that apply to government entities. 

If the NYCTA or MTA was negligent and caused your accident, you first have to file a notice of claim within 90 days of the accident. That notice puts the city on notice that you intend to pursue your right to compensation.  It contains basic information, including:

  • Your name and your attorney’s name
  • Where the accident occurred
  • A basic description of how the accident happened
  • A description of your injuries and damages 

You then have one year and 90 days from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the transit authority. 

Shared Fault: Could Shared Fault Impact Your Right to Compensation?

Under New York state law, comparative fault rules still allow you to get money–as long as you are not entirely to blame for the accident. New York follows a “pure” contributory negligence system. That means fault is attributed between all parties whose actions contributed to the accident. 

If you are partly to blame, the amount of your compensation award will be reduced. Say you weren’t paying attention, and the judge finds that your actions were 25% to blame for the accident. Your $100,000 compensation award can be reduced by 25%–so you will receive $75,000.

When another party is trying to blame you for your own injuries, an experienced personal injury attorney can help. Even if you were looking at your phone or something in the station, you don’t lose your right to compensation entirely. 

At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, our skilled injury lawyers will go to the scene of the accident immediately. We investigate to obtain any information that could minimize the role of contributory negligence in your case. That evidence could include:

  • Video surveillance footage
  • Eyewitness testimony
  • The testimony of NYCTA and MTA employees
  • Photos and videos taken by other subway passengers

Proving negligence can be challenging. Claims against public transportation authorities are particularly complex. Our New York accident lawyers are up to the challenge. Call today so that we can put our 40 years of experience to work for you.

Our NYC Injury Lawyers Fight to Get Full Compensation for Subway Accident Victims

Our NYC Injury Lawyers Fight to Get Full Compensation for Subway Accident Victims

NYC subway accident victims are entitled to compensation for all of the expenses associated with the injury.

You also have a right to compensation that reflects the damage the injury has caused to your daily life. 

Examples of damages include:

  • Compensation for past and future medical bills
  • Emergency room costs
  • Physical therapy
  • In-home health care and assistance
  • Lost wages 
  • Loss of your ability to earn a living in the future
  • Childcare costs while you recover
  • Property damages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Diminished quality of life
  • Emotional distress
  • Damages for wrongful death if you lost a loved one in a subway accident

Insurance companies almost always put up a fight when it comes to paying a compensation award that is fair. Our injury lawyers at Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience getting fair settlements and verdicts for NYC accident victims. Contact us today to see how we can help in your case.

Speak with a New York City Subway Accident Lawyer About Your Right to Financial Compensation

Time constraints for filing an NYC subway accident claim can be extremely limited. The time limits cannot be extended even if your injuries are very serious. Our experienced personal injury attorneys will put in the work necessary to protect your right to pursue compensation.

At Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers, we handle every aspect of your lawsuit. We can even meet with you at home or in the hospital if you aren’t feeling up to traveling. If you were hurt in a subway accident, get help today by calling an experienced NYC subway accident lawyer. We review your case for free, so don’t hesitate to learn more about your rights.

Visit Our Law Office In Manhattan, NY

Rosenbaum Personal Injury Lawyers
100 Wall St 24th Floor, New York, NY 10005
(212) 514-5007

Our personal injury law firm in NYC, NY also provides: