Subways and trains provide an invaluable service to American workers. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority alone provides more than 2.6 billion trips every year, preventing about 17 million tons of pollutants from being released by motor vehicles every year.
With such a large responsibility on their shoulders, subway and train operators have a professional duty to transport passengers safely from one stop to another. If an operator causes harm to passengers or pedestrians, he or she should be held accountable for their negligence.
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured due to a subway accident, contact Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi today. Our skilled personal injury lawyers have spent more than 80 combined years fighting for the injured in New Jersey and New York, collecting more than $300 million in compensation along the way. Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi have the experience and commitment to see your claim through to the very end and hold the guilty party accountable for their negligence. Call (201) 585-9111 or contact us online to speak with one of our experienced subway accident attorneys today.
Liability for a Subway Accident
Subway accidents are unique in that there can be many sources of negligence. Perhaps the accident was caused by a distracted subway operator, or it could have been the result of faulty subway machinery. Perhaps it was the maintenance crew that failed to remove debris from the tracks, resulting in a dangerously blocked track.
The best way to determine whether or not you have a claim—and who the claim should focus on—is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi have the resources to conduct a thorough investigation of the accident, including collecting witness statements, interviewing subway operators and maintenance staff, and collecting medical records. The results of this investigation will show who and what was responsible for the accident and who should be named in the personal injury suit.
Damages in a Subway Accident Case
If you are injured in a subway accident, you could be eligible to recover money in a civil lawsuit. In order to prove your claim, you will have to prove three things: you were injured, the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence, and that display of negligence was the direct cause of your injuries (whether the injuries are physical, financial, or emotional).
Damages in a personal injury case are divided into two categories: compensatory and punitive damages. The vast majority of personal injury cases deal with compensatory damages, which are designed to compensate the injured person for losses suffered as a result of the accident. Compensatory damages in a subway accident could include:
- Current and future medical treatment: includes hospitalization costs, ongoing treatment expenses, rehabilitation costs, and any expected future medical expenses
- Lost wages: compensation for wages lost while out of work due to the accident, as well as decreased earning capacity in the future if the injuries will continue to affect the victim
- Property damage: compensation for damage to the victim’s car, clothing, or other personal effects as a result of the accident
- Loss of enjoyment of life: covers loss of enjoyment of day-to-day activities, recreation, hobbies, and exercise
- Pain and suffering: the physical and emotional pain caused by the accident, including the pain of the physical injuries and ongoing emotional trauma
- Emotional distress: the psychological effects of an injury, such as anxiety, sleep loss, or fear (typically awarded in severe accidents)
- Wrongful death: compensation for the family or estate of someone killed by a negligent driver
There is no cap on compensatory damages in the state of New Jersey. This means you are eligible to recover the full amount of damages, so long as you can prove the monetary value of your losses.
Punitive damages are awarded more rarely than compensatory damages. Punitive damages are designed to punish the negligent party for particularly egregious behavior, such as causing an accident on purpose. As such, they are only awarded in certain cases with unusual circumstances.
It is important to remember that there are strict time limits when it comes to filing a personal injury case. In New Jersey, there is a two-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases. In other words, you must file your claim within two years of the accident if you choose to do so. If you do not file a claim within two years, you will lose out on the right to compensation for the accident.
However, claims against the government have special time limits involved. If the liable party was a government agency, such as the Federal Transit Administration or New Jersey Transit, you must give formal notice of your claim within 90 days of the accident. After filing the initial notice, you must wait six months to file a lawsuit. During this six-month waiting period, the government agency will most likely reach out to you to try and resolve your claim. With the help of a knowledgeable attorney, you can decide whether to resolve your claim with the government agency or file a formal lawsuit.
Contact Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi
Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi are proud to represent the injured throughout New Jersey and New York. Since opening our doors in 1974, we have been committed to the highest standards of excellence in personal injury litigation. Our million-dollar and multi-million-dollar settlements have earned us inclusion in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, of which fewer than 1 percent of U.S. lawyers are members. Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi was named to U.S. News and World Report’s Best Law Firms list of 2013, and Michael Maggiano and Christopher DiGirolamo have received the highest possible ratings as car accident attorneys by the AVVO Lawyer Ratings service.
With more than 80 years’ worth of combined trial experience, we are prepared to investigate your claim and fight to hold the negligent party accountable for their actions. If you or a loved one has been injured in a subway accident, contact us to discuss your legal options. Call (201) 585-9111 or contact us online to schedule your free and confidential consultation today.
