The Metro North Accident
The first call you should make if you or a loved one are injured as a result of a public transit or train accident in NYC is to the law firm of Lipsig Shapey, Manus & Moverman P.C. Our law firm has a proven track record of obtaining significant results and the specialized knowledge and experience to litigate on behalf of victims of railroad negligence.
Metro North Negligence Causes Fatal Train Crash
As reported recently on December 1, 2013, a Metro North Train loaded with passengers derailed whiling speeding around a tight curve, in the Bronx, resulting in four dead and many others injured. A preliminary analysis of the derailment pointed to excessive speed as the cause of the wreck. Continued investigation into the cause of the train accident in NYC has revealed that Metro North’s safety standards regarding the hiring of engineers and implementing safety procedures is woefully inadequate.
Train Engineer Inattention & Corporate Complacency
On December 6, 2013, the New York Post reported that although the train’s excessive speed was caused by a sleeping or inattentive engineer, Metro North was at fault for not implementing policies and procedures that they have known about for years. According to the paper, whistle alert, whereby a shrill whistle would sound to warn the engineer to pay attention or slow down, and speed governing technology, which would automatically cause the train to slow or stop if the whistle alert was ignored, have been available for decades.
Despite the fact that this technology has been available for years, the Metro North does not have the speed governing technology on the stretch of the Hudson line where the train accident in NYC occurred and only have the whistle alert technology available for half of the trains on the route. The MTA has had adequate warning of the need for these technologies for several decades. In 1988, an engineer was killed when he crashed an empty train into another due to inattention and excessive speed. The Post has attributed the MTA’s failure to managerial and supervisory incompetence and the failure to have an adequate number of safety administrators.
Deadly Repercussions
The December 6, 2013 article provoked a response from Senator Charles Schumer who was quoted by the New York Post three days later, stating “It’s pretty clear that if an employee has an unsafe record, they shouldn’t be at the helm of an engine that’s carrying hundreds of people.” In the article Senator Schumer blasted Metro North’s decision to rehire an engineer who caused a crash in 1987, that injured 27 riders. According to the article that same engineer was suspended for thirty days for passing a stop sign at Grand Central Terminal.
As a result of the December 1, 2013 train accident in NYC and the attention generated as a result of the MTA and its agents’ negligence, the federal government has ordered the implementation of new safety measures effective immediately.
What Can Be Done For You
Advocating on behalf of people who suffer injuries as the result of the negligence of railroad companies and transit authorities requires specialized knowledge and is what we do best. If you or a loved one are killed or injured as a result of a horrific public transit accident such as the most recent Metro North tragedy, you will need assistance from a NYC accident lawyer to obtain compensation from the railroad. Contact the law firm of Lipsig Shapey Manus & Moverman P.C., 40 Fulton Street New York, NY 10038 today for a free consultation. Call us at 212-285-3300 (1-800-954-7744) or fill out a contact form today for a free case evaluation and consultation. We will come to your home or hospital if you are injured.
Remember, we work on a contingency fee basis, and are only paid if we obtain compensation for your injuries. There is no fee for our services unless a recovery is won. We have been fighting to protect the rights and obtain maximum compensation for injured persons for over 80 years and are ready to help you.
