Legal Help After a NYC Train Accident
While train accidents are much rarer than car accidents, the number of people involved and the destruction a train accident can cause will be far more tragic than a single car accident. With all the trains that crisscross the countryside of New York, not to mention New York City’s extensive subway system, thousands of people put their lives in the hands of railroad transit.
When there’s a train accident, there are often devastating results. Death, serious bodily injury, and fundamental changes to victims’ quality of life are all too common following a derailment. Regardless of the cause, if you find yourself being the victim of a train incident, someone else is almost certainly accountable. At Pollack, Pollack, Isaac & DeCicco, LLP, our team can help you recover damages that you’ve suffered as a result of an accident, including your medical expenses, future earnings, and even emotional anguish. Contact our office at 800-223-2814 for a free consultation to learn more about your legal options.
Causes of Train Accidents
Unfortunately, train accidents cause such a wide range of destruction that it’s often difficult for investigators to determine precisely what went wrong. Over the years, however, experts have pinpointed some of the most commonly occurring factors involved in a train accident. These include:
- Human Error: Despite years of training and experience, one brief second of inattention is all it takes to cause a fatal train crash. Train engineers and other workers might incorrectly align railroad switches, which allows the train to move in-between tracks. Other examples include an employee incorrectly using the hand brakes and failing to follow instructions.
- Poor Track Maintenance/Defects: Poor track maintenance is indirectly caused by human error. If quality inspectors fail to do their job, trains could end up moving along tracks that are damaged. This can increase the risk of train derailments.
- Faulty Equipment: Again, if faulty equipment is used to operate a train, someone down the line made the mistake of neglecting their duties. One malfunctioning switch on the control panel can mean life or death on the tracks.
If you’ve been the victim of a train accident, you probably have no idea what caused it. Work with an experienced New York train accident attorney who can investigate the accident and help you get the financial compensation you need.
Possible Injuries in a Train Accident
Because of the huge machinery and confined spaces, train accidents can cause catastrophic injuries. Some common ones include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Skull fractures
- Paralysis
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe cuts/lacerations
Aside from the injuries you can sustain during a collision, you can also fall while moving between train cars, walking along the train, or stepping off onto the platform.
The complications from experiencing head trauma, spinal cord damage, or other major injuries can lead to the death of the victim. When someone is killed in a train accident, their families may be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover the cost of funeral expenses, lost income, and more.
Liability in a Train Accident
After any major train accident, there will be a federal investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). At that time, experts will determine what exactly happened. Many trains these days have black boxes, similar to the kind found on airplanes, that shed light on the events leading up to the accident. Even after liability has been determined, however, the train company and its insurance provider want to spend as little as possible on the victims.
Working With New York Train Accident Attorneys
The team at Pollack, Pollack, Isaac & DeCicco, LLP, is on your side. We are dedicated to helping victims and their families recover the right compensation so they can focus on healing. With the support of a New York train accident attorney, you will have the strategic backing to fight for the proper verdict or settlement. You could collect damages that will pay for expensive medical bills, lost future earnings, physical rehabilitation, and even the emotional anguish that comes with any tragic accident. Call our office today at 800-223-2814 to get started with a free consultation.
