Dozens Injured in Weekend PATH Train Accident
A Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PATH) commuter train accident injured more than 30 people Sunday morning when it hit a rubberized barrier at the end of the line in Hoboken, NJ, according to The New York Times. Injured victims were treated onsite or transported to local hospitals for treatment; most suffered minor injuries such as bumps, bruises, and scrapes, but several more seriously injured victims were transported to Jersey City Medical Center. There were no life-threatening injuries.
The PATH NY to NJ train crash occurred on Track 2 of the station’s 3 tracks. The tracks remained out of service until Sunday evening, when one of the tracks was reopened. Although an investigation is still ongoing, an official believes that operator error may have been the cause of the train accident. According to one of its passengers, the train seemed to pull into the station at normal travelling speed as if no one was applying the brakes. The first car crushed a portion of the platform and collided with 3 turnstiles before stopping. Because the accident occurred at the end of the line, most of the injuries were caused as people had begun moving towards the doors to disembark.
A similar accident occurred in October 2009 when an NY-bound train overran its stop and crashed into a barricade, called a “bumping block,” at the end of the line in Manhattan. The Manhattan train accident also caused minor injuries.
New York train accidents can be caused by mechanical failure or malfunction, operator error or negligence, poorly maintained tracks, collision with another vehicle, or train or derailment. Derailment may also be caused by an accident. Whenever a train crash is caused by something within the control of the train operator or responsible company, such as applying the brakes or repairing dilapidated tracks, the operator and/or the company may be held responsible for the injuries their negligence caused.
At Wingate, Russotti and Shapiro, our knowledgeable New York train crash attorneys help injured victims hold negligent parties accountable for the financial and emotional losses they have suffered. To learn more about your legal rights and options, contact one of our experienced New York train accident lawyers today at 1-212-222-4336 for a free consultation.
