Articles Posted in Subway and Bus Accidents

On the morning of Wednesday, January 4, 2017, a Long Island Railroad (LIRR) train derailed at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal during the rush hour commute injuring over a hundred (100) people, officials said.  An estimated 600 people were on the train when the crash occurred.  The train left from Far Rockaway at 7:18am and was supposed to arrive at the Atlantic Terminal at 8:11am.  The crash happened at 8:20am.

According to officials, the LIRR train derailed on Track 6 when it slammed into a bumper block at the transit hub as it pulled into the station.  The LIRR train was running about nine minutes late from its scheduled arrival time at Brooklyn’s Atlantic Terminal.  There will likely be an investigation into the causes surrounding the crash and derailment by the Federal Railroad Administration.  Data recorders aboard the train can show the speed it was traveling and when the engineer hit the brakes (if at all) just before the crash.  While investigators have not answered many questions about the crash, the preliminary information, as being reported by the news, is that the train was going too fast as it entered the station and struck a bumper at the end of the track.

The station quickly filled with dust and smoke after the crash.  One of the passengers aboard the train described the accident as follows:  “The train suddenly slammed…We were standing and waiting to get off.  One of the doors shattered and we all fell on top of each other.”

At approximately 9:50 a.m., an MTA bus struck and killed a 73 year old woman near East Houston and Columbia Street.  The victim was declared dead at the scene.

The bus was turning off of Avenue D onto East Houston when the woman was caught under the rear wheels of the bus. Witnesses stated that the bus driver did not initially realize that he had hit someone. Residents near the scene of the accident reported that corner where the accident took place is notoriously dangerous.

Leav & Steinberg has successfully represented a 57 year old woman that was struck by a bus and suffered traumatic leg amputations.  A $5,000,000.00 settlement was obtained for the injuries our client sustained in the accident.

The New Jersey Ferry, run by Seastreak Ferry, is a major means of transportation for tourists and natives alike. It is free of charge, spacious, and runs frequently between Atlantic Highlands and Highlands in New Jersey and lower Manhattan. The multi-level boats can carry hundreds of passengers and crew on a single trip. Rows of seating are available throughout the boat. Some passengers choose to stand at the perimeter of the boat during the trip to enjoy the view or make a quit exit from the boat. Once the boat is fully docked and the gates on the deck open, the exits get backed up since the boats are usually rather full with passengers. The ferry ride is generally smooth and peaceful, perhaps due to the larger size of the vessels and the relatively flat current on the Hudson.

On January 9, 2013, the ferry made a hard landing straight into the Manhattan dock. The reason for this still appears to be under investigation. Though the operation of a ferry is somewhat complicated in that it involves the study of the mechanics of the vessel and an understanding of the current, landings in this area are not typically expected to be dangerous. The ferry operator on January 9, 2013, Captain James Reimer, was questioned at length after the accident. He and the five member crew were given alcohol and drugs tests, the complete results of which have yet to be released. Captain Reimer said the controls and engines failed, which prevented him from reversing the boat at the appropriate time to slow it and effectuate a smooth landing. The ferry engines have a data storage feature, which will allow an in depth investigation of what happened at the controls just before the crash.

There have been numerous ferry accidents. In 2009, the same ferry was involved in a hard landing which resulted in a large gash being made in the boat. In 2010, a boat was involved in a crash which punctured a hole in the port side of the same boat. The unrelated Staten Island Ferry also has been in several accidents, the most notable being the 2003 crash in which the operator lost consciousness at the controls after taking pain relievers which had drowsiness listed as a known side effect. As a result of this accident, eleven people were killed.

On January 9, 2013, at least eighty-five people were injured when a high-speed ferry heading to New York City crashed into a dock in Manhattan. The impact tore a large gash in the bow of the 130 foot long ferry. At the time of the accident, the ferry was carrying 326 people, including five crew members. It was reported that at least two of the injured individuals sustained serious head wounds. The accident involved a ferry operated by Seastreak, which carries more than four hundred people each trip between New Jersey and a pier in New York City near Wall Street.

This crash is certainly tragic, and begs the question of whether it could have been prevented. In 2009, the same ferry was involved in another incident where it hit a dock. In that 2009 accident, the ferry sustained a two to three foot rip in its hull. Reports from witnesses and passengers indicated that the ferry did not slow down as it approached the dock. In addition, there were also major safety concerns because passengers were already standing and lined up to exit the ferry, despite not having safely docked yet. In fact, one of the seriously injuries was caused by a man being thrown down the stairs and striking his head on a window. Investigators were not immediately clear on what caused the crash and the National Transportation Safety Board deployed a team to the scene to conduct a full investigation.

Ferries, like trains and buses, are referred to as “common carriers.” A common carrier is a company that provides transportation to the general public without discrimination, usually under some sort of license or authority from a regulatory body. Unlike drivers of cars, common carriers owe a greater obligation to provide a higher level of safety to its passengers. Ferry owners or operators could be held liable if an accident occurs because the ferry was not properly maintained, was not compliant with safety regulations or if the ferry captain did not properly operate the ferry.