Suffolk County Train Accident

New York has one of the country's largest and busiest rail hubs. In addition to being home of the largest subway system in the country, other major rail lines operate in New York including the Long Island Rail Road, Amtrak, PATH, New Jersey Transit, Metro North and freight trains. Each day millions of people ride on trains that travel through New York. Based on the number of people who ride trains each day in New York it is not surprising that accidents occur. While major accidents involving derailments or collisions are relatively rare, other types of accidents that leave seriously injured victims are not so uncommon. Such accidents include accidents that occur at railroad crossings such as a train hitting a car or a pedestrian. Other types of accidents occur in train stations or on platforms such as slip and fall accidents. Victims of train accidents often suffer serious injuries such as injuries to the head, back, spinal cord, and neck. These types of injuries can lead to paralysis and other lifelong injuries and disabilities. Sadly, in some instances train accident victims do not survive. The law related to train accidents can be complex, often involving a governmental entity such as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Long Island Rail Road or the Metro North Railway. If you are in need of a personal injury lawyer because you or a loved one has been injured in a train accident or subway accident, it is important that you immediately speak with an experienced Suffolk County train accident lawyer for guidance. You should do so quickly, as there are time limits that you must follow when you file a personal injury claim.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board the most common types of railroad accidents are collisions with other trains, derailment, and collisions with passenger vehicles. Such accidents are often caused by negligent acts such as:

• 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

There are also many train accidents that involve pedestrians. In fact, in New York an average of approximately 140 people are struck and killed by commuter trains and subway trains each year. In addition, many people are injured or killed in other types of accidents on trains or in train stations. Such accidents include electrocution, slip and fall accidents, and staircase accidents. In addition, victims are seriously injured in criminal assaults and other acts of violence in part due to lack of adequate security on trains, on train platforms or in trains stations.

As a train accident attorney in Suffolk County will explain, depending on the particulars of your case, if you are seriously hurt in a train accident you may be entitled to compensation based on different types of losses, including:

• Medical bills: Through a personal injury lawsuit you may be able to recover expenses for medical treatment such your hospital stay, prescriptions, laboratory fees, rehabilitation, surgery and other types of treatment, physical therapy, chiropractic care, and visits to your doctors.
• Loss of income: If your injury is serious you may miss days, weeks, or even months of work. You will be entitled to recover compensation for the income you lost while recuperating from your injuries.
• Pain and suffering: You may also receive compensation for the pain and suffering that you experienced as a result of the accident. Pain and suffering refers to not only physical pain, but also for mental suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful death: If a loved one died in a train accident, you or your loved one's personal representative may be able pursue a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of your loved one's estate.

Victims of train accidents are not limited to passengers. Employees of railroad companies and companies that provided services to railroad companies are often seriously injured in accidents while working. Generally speaking, when an employee is injured in the workplace that employee would be entitled to benefits under New York's workers' compensation rules. Those benefits include medical care and lost wages. However, another statute applies to railroad employees. The Federal Employers Liability Act, FELA, allows railroad workers injured while working to receive financial compensation. Such employees would not be entitled to workers' compensation.

If you have been seriously injured in a train or railroad-related accident, including a collision, derailment, accident in a train station, or accident on a platform, you are probably facing significant medical expenses, time away from work, and a range of difficult emotions. Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates to discuss the details of your case. Our staff regularly handles complex damage cases, including claims for wrongful death and personal injury arising out of train accidents, subway accidents, car accidents and construction accidents. Contact an experienced train accident attorney serving Suffolk County 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.