Westchester County Subway Accident

The subway is a convenient and economical mode of transportation for millions of people in our larger cities. And in its more than 150 year history the subway system has undergone major improvements and technological advancements. Subways are now faster and more reliable than ever before, but the threat of a serious subway accident is always a possibility as trains increase in speed. A subway accident is usually the result of a collision or derailment, and those are mainly caused by human error, negligence or equipment failure. Because of the high speeds at which these modern subways travel, the potential for traumatic injury is high. Common injuries resulting from a subway accident are broken back, spinal injury, head injury, skull fracture, brain injury, and paralysis. If you were seriously injured in a subway accident, you deserve to be compensated for your loss. Contact an experienced Westchester County subway accident Lawyer to learn more about how you can obtain just compensation for your injuries.

Typically subway accidents are caused by one of the following types of negligence:

• Conductor error
• Poor maintenance
• Speeding
• Equipment malfunction
• Spills
• Debris on platform
• Acts of violence

As a result of negligence there are a variety of types of accidents that can occur such as derailments, explosions, falls, and assaults. Passengers are not the only victims of subway mishaps. Subway workers and other contractors are also frequent victims of subway accidents.

Depending on the facts of your case, if you are hurt in a subway accident due to another person's negligence you may be entitled a number of types of compensation through a personal injury claim.

• Medical bills: A subway accident can lead to serious injuries such as broken bones, head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, bruises, facial injuries and back or spinal cord injuries. The medical expenses associated with such an accident can be substantial.
• Lost income: Victims of serious injuries typically mess a significant amount of work. You will be entitled to recover compensation for the income you lost while recovering from your injuries including paychecks as well as other types of compensation.
• Pain and suffering: You may also be entitled to damages the physical pain and mental suffering that you faced as a result of the accident as evidenced from your medical bills and treatment.
• Wrongful death: If a family member was killed in the accident, the family of the victim may pursue damages through a wrongful death claim.

It is important to note that in order to recover compensation from a government entity such as the MTA, you must follow strict rules which are markedly different from the rules for filing a personal injury lawsuit in court. An important distinction is that you first must file a Notice of Claim. Another important distinction is that the timeframe for filing a claim is much shorter than the statue of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit.

If you are a railroad or subway worker you may not be covered by workers' compensation. Instead, the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) allows injured railroad and subway workers to sue to recoup damages should they sustain a serious injury while working.

Subway accident cases are extremely complicated and may involve governmental entities as well as private companies and private citizens. Furthermore there may be complex procedural rules and timelines that must be followed in order to retain the legal right to proceed with your claim. To make sure that your case is properly handled it is critical that you are represented by attorneys with experience handling personal injury cases where the government is involved. Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates to discuss the details of your case. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.