Why You Should Never Sleep on a NYC Subway Ride

Q: Can I recover for fire and burn injuries caused by someone else? It’s something out of your worst nightmare and the kind of story that gives the New York subway system a bad name. Imagine dozing off on a subway train in the wee hours of the morning only to awaken to the sounds of a “maniacal teen” laughing and staring at you as your arm is engulfed in flames. The gruesome reality reportedly happened recently around 2:30 am on the G train subway line as it was entering its last stop in Queens. The teen who reportedly has a history of arson arrests – – and the victim were the only ones in the subway car. In addition to staring and laughing at the victim, he reportedly took out his cell phone to record a video of the burning man. Had it not been for two nearby transit workers’ actions the teen might not have been apprehended. They realized something was awry and that this wasn’t a regular track fire when they saw feathers from the victim’s coat as well as a pair of gloves slightly on fire. It was then they overheard the teen “laughing and bragging” about the attack on his phone. Rather than running away, the teen approached responding police officers asking what was going on. It was then that the transit workers tipped off the police and the teen was arrested for “arson, reckless endangerment, and assault”. He reportedly has a history of arrests, including two as recently as October 19 and December 6. The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital, suffering second and third degree burns to his right hand and arm. Fire and burn accident injuries can be devastatingly painful and life altering. If you have been injured as a result of the negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of someone else, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. In addition to proving your damages, you need to prove that another person or entity was responsible for your injuries. Recoverable damages may include current and future medical expenses, lost income, property damage, pain and suffering, and in the case of particularly egregious or intentional actions–like perhaps setting someone on fire– punitive damages may also be awarded. If you’ve been the victim of a fire or burn injury, the personal injury attorneys at Jaroslawicz & Jaros in Manhattan will review and evaluate your claim for free. Call today or email us at [email protected]. We have a 45-year track record of successful verdicts and settlements in a variety of personal injury and accident cases and represent clients throughout the state of New York and nationwide.