Human Error and New York Train Accidents

This past fall, thousands of East Coast residents were left in the dark after tropical storm Sandy roared through, but an even greater number of commuters in New York City and the surrounding areas were stranded when the vast commuter rail and subway systems were shut down. The storm illustrated how vulnerable the mass transit system is to flooding, downed trees and damaged tracks — and how dependent we are on our trains.

The logistical problems that loomed large during the storm occur frequently on a smaller scale, especially during winter blizzards. However, human error is responsible for more serious passenger injuries and fatalities than weather-related events. A Manhattan train accident can result from the following:

• Derailment
• Collisions
• Engineer error (alcohol, drug use or fatigue)
• Excessive or slow speed
• Signaling failure
• Failure to properly maintain track and equipment
• Electrical shorts or fires
• Defective equipment (brakes, wheels or switches)

Trains can derail or jump the tracks in bad weather but, more often, the wheels or track gauge have not been inspected and repaired. This kind of accident can also occur if the engineer is driving too fast or too slow, or if the brakes or switches fail to operate properly.

Rich & Rich, P.C., has successfully represented clients injured in New York City train accidents. We will thoroughly investigate your case, and ensure that you get the compensation you are entitled to receive if you have been injured because the transit system neglected to follow standard safety procedures.