Content reviewed by:
Alex Shulman
The Staten Island Railway plays an essential role in the daily lives of many Staten Island residents and visitors. Unfortunately, this convenience can often come at a cost. While you and your loved ones will hopefully never be involved in a Staten Island train accident, it is important to understand your rights if you ever do find yourself in these circumstances.
If you or a loved one were injured in a Staten Island train accident, you may be able to secure compensation for your medical bills and related losses by filing a lawsuit against the transit company or similar party who may have caused the accident.
You can consult with a Staten Island train accident attorney at Shulman & Hill to learn more. Our train accident lawyers near Staten Island can review your case, explain your legal options, and provide aggressive representation if you decide to enlist our help.
Staten Island Train Accidents: What You Need to Know
Currently, the Staten Island Railway only consists of one subway line. While the lack of an interconnecting subway network found in New York’s other boroughs means that the rate of train accidents on Staten Island is lower than it is in other parts of the city, it does not mean that Staten Island train accidents never occur.
In recent years, there have been accidents involving train derailments and collisions with barriers which have put the safety of Staten Island Railway passengers in jeopardy.
Potential Causes of Staten Island Train Accidents
Staten Island train accidents may occur for various reasons. Potential causes include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Error or neglect on the part of a train’s operator
- Intoxicated train operator
- Distraction while operating a train
- Operating a train at excessive speeds
- Vehicle or track defects
- Trains leaving the platform before passengers have safely boarded or disembarked
- Trains colliding with other vehicles
- Neglect on the part of those responsible for maintaining and repairing trains
The Aftermath of a Staten Island Train Accident
Being involved in a Staten Island train accident can leave you with injuries that may require costly medical treatment. Whether temporary or permanent, your injuries might also limit your ability to return to work. In either case, when you are unable to earn a paycheck, you may struggle to pay your medical bills and other household expenses.
You may not be responsible for covering these losses if they stem from a Staten Island train accident. In fact, you may be able to seek compensation for them by filing a lawsuit against the party whose negligence caused the accident, including the transit company. To learn more about your legal options, contact the legal experts at our personal injury law firm near Staten Island.
How Our Train Accident Law Firm Near Staten Island Can Help
A dedicated Staten Island train accident lawyer can play a crucial role in the ultimate success of your train accident case. The following are among the most critical ways Shulman & Hill’s lawyers can help you:
Conducting a Full Investigation
In order to pursue compensation for your losses after a Staten Island train accident, you must identify who may be responsible. Sometimes the answer is not as obvious as it may seem.
If an accident occurred because of a train operator’s error, the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority (a subsidiary of the MTA) may be held liable. However, some accidents may occur due to a defect that the train’s manufacturers or designers overlooked, in which case they would be held liable.
Determining liability in an accident can be crucial. If necessary, our attorneys at Shulman & Hill are prepared to conduct a thorough investigation in order to help identify all liable parties.
Handling Administrative Tasks
It is crucial that you focus on your recovery in the aftermath of a Staten Island train accident. However, this can be difficult if you are spending significant amounts of time submitting paperwork, coordinating with witnesses, gathering evidence, corresponding with insurers, and handling numerous other administrative tasks.
None of these tasks are worth the burden if you can avoid them. At our train accident law firm near Staten Island, we handle all of these tasks on behalf of our clients. After all, you should be focused on your recovery.
Seeking an Appropriate Settlement
Sadly, when insurance companies receive claims from injured accident victims, they often respond by prioritizing their own financial interests. Some insurers do not want victims to hire lawyers if they can get away with offering a smaller settlement to the claimant directly.
You do not have to accept an insurer’s unreasonably low offers. Our team at Shulman & Hill is well-versed in dealing with insurance adjusters and defense lawyers and can help you negotiate toward a settlement that covers your full range of losses. If a reasonable settlement cannot be reached, we can go to trial on your behalf and fight for a favorable jury verdict.