Staten Island Train Accident

Every day millions of people board trains on their way to their place of employment, to see a friend or relative or to attend to business in the city. Trains are appealing because they offer convenient transportation that is relatively quick and easily accessible. Today, trains have improved in many ways, including speed. Despite improvements in technology and safety features, train accidents do occur. There are many different types of train accidents including collisions with another train, collisions with cars, collisions with pedestrians, derailments, and accidents on platforms and in train stations. Regardless of the type of train accident, victims often suffer injuries that are quite serious and life-threatening. For example, it is not unusual for victim of train accident to suffer a back injury, neck injury, brain injury, broken bones, or spinal cord injury. Sadly, in some instances train accident victims do not survive. The law related to train accidents can be complex, often involving government authorities as defendants. If you or a loved one has been injured in a train accident, speak with a skilled Staten Island train accident lawyer for guidance.

Common causes of train accidents

There are a variety of types of train accidents that lead to serious injuries and fatalities. The most common types of accident include collisions with cars, SUVs, and trucks, collisions with other trains, and derailments. Other types of train and railroad-related accidents include trains hitting pedestrians, electrocution, slip and fall accidents, staircase accidents, and criminal assaults.

Such accidents are typically caused by a negligent act on the part of the railroad staff, including train operators, conductors, train station staff, or the company who manages the train station or train operations. Examples of such negligent acts include:

• Alcohol or illegal drug use
• Defective railroad crossings
• Poor maintenance
• Inadequate signal interchanges
• Inconsistent train track or rail inspection
• Defective crossing signals
• Failure to use horn
• Operator fatigue
• Excessive speed

Pursuing a claim

A train accident attorney serving victims in Staten Island will explain that depending on the facts of your case, if you are hurt in a train accident you may be entitled a number of types of compensation.

• Medical bills: Through a personal injury claim you may be able to recover expenses for medical treatment, your hospital stay, prescriptions, rehabilitation and visits to your doctors.
• Loss of income: If your injury is serious you may not be able to return to work for days, weeks, or even months. You will be entitled to recover compensation for the income you lost while recovering from your injuries. You may be entitled to compensation for lost income even if you are self-employed.
• Pain and suffering: You may also be able to recover compensation for the pain and suffering that you suffered as a result of the accident. Pain and suffering refers to the physical pain. It also refers to suffering related to permanent injuries such as scarring and amputations, as well as emotional pain that accompanies serious injuries.
• Wrongful death: If a loved one was killed in a railroad-related accident, through a wrongful death lawsuit you may be able to demand compensation for your losses including loss of consortium, loss of support, and funeral and burial expenses.

Injured railroad employees

If the victim of a train accident is a railroad employee, benefits may be available through the Federal Employers Liability Act.

Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates

If you have been seriously injured in a train collision or derailment, or in an accident in a train station or on a platform, contact a train accident attorney in Staten Island at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates to discuss the details of your case. Our staff is experienced in handling claims resulting from train accidents, subway accidents, as well as other types of accident such as slip and fall accidents, SUV accidents, car accidents, and motorcycle accidents. 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.

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