New York City Train Derailment: A Recurrent Problem?

Q: Why are there so many New York train accident derailments lately and who is responsible for damages? There are worse things than commuting to work each day with 300,000 other people on the busiest commuter railroad in the country. Being on that morning train when it derails would be one of them. Recently, a Long Island Railroad train entering the Atlantic terminal in Brooklyn, New York, failed to stop when it reached the station. Instead it barreled into the “bumping block” and continued forward into a room just past the track. The impact caused what various witnesses described as a deafening roar that sounded like a bomb exploding, breaking glass, twisting metal, and the derailment of the front two cars of the train. Scores of passengers were literally sent flying and landed in piles on top of one another. Many described an eerie quiet that followed briefly as victims tried to process what just happened and fearing a possible terrorist attack. Over 100 injured passengers were taken to local hospitals. Remarkably, there were no fatalities. The most serious injury was initially reported as a broken arm, though countless others were complaining of neck and back pain from whiplash-like motions and impact injuries from being physically tossed about the cabin. Since the engineer is the person solely responsible for stopping the train, the investigation will look closely at the engineer’s actions or inactions and any possible reasons for same. In addition, any possible mechanical issues with the train or tracks will be examined in an effort to assign liability for the accident and the resulting injuries. When you’re injured by the negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of somebody else through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to recover compensatory damages through a personal injury lawsuit. Such damages may include medical treatment stemming from the accident as well as future anticipated treatment or rehabilitation fees, lost income due to inability to work, property damage, and pain and suffering, depending on the circumstances of each case. If you are injured in a train accident, it’s important to hire a law firm with extensive experience in that specialized area of law. The New York City personal injury firm of Jaroslawicz & Jaros has been successfully representing people injured in train, airplane, and boat accidents for over 40 years. We’ve represented plaintiffs in some of the most high-profile New York City cases involving trains, planes, and boats. We represent clients throughout New York and those injured while in New York. If you’ve been injured in a train accident, call us today for a free consultation at 212.227.2780 or email us at: [email protected].