5 Facts About Public Transit Accidents
Public Transit Accidents Require an Experienced Attorney
One of the most important things to know about public transit accidents is that you should have an attorney to represent you. Negotiations with transit organizations and their insurance companies should never be handled without an experienced personal injury lawyer, and you should never accept the first settlement offer without the advice of an attorney.
Our firm has represented many New Yorkers injured in public transit accidents, both as a passenger and as a driver in an accident with a bus. Contact our award–winning firm today, or keep reading to learn 5 facts about public transit accidents in New York.
1. There were 3,615 Car Accidents Involving Public Transit in NYC in 2022.
According to Forbes, 3,615 car accidents in New York City in 2022 involved a bus. Furthermore, statistics from the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCA) show that there were 7,000 buses involved in traffic accidents throughout the entire country. This means that New York alone makes up more than half of traffic accidents involving buses in the country.
In total, bus accidents made up 9% of all car accidents in NYC in 2022. Car accidents involving public transit can be complicated. It is best to work with an attorney with a track record of personal injury cases against public transit organizations, primarily MTA. Our firm has this experience.
2. At Least 1,350 Pedestrians were Injured by Public Transit in New York State in 2022.
According to New York’s Pedestrian Safety page, there were 15,000 reported injuries of pedestrians throughout the state of New York in 2022. If you go by the fact that 9% of traffic accidents involve buses, at least 1,350 pedestrians were injured by buses in 2022 in New York State.
Pedestrians are in even higher danger of severe injury than passengers or other drivers on the road. The size and speed of buses tend to make injuries much more severe. You need an attorney who will fight to cover both your current and future medical expenses.
3. About 17 People Are Injured By MTA Trains Each Day.
According to the 2018 report from the Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York, 2.97 million rider injuries were reported in that year. This equates to about 17 injuries per day. Some of these injuries could be very minor and require little to no medical treatment, but others are more serious and require long-term care.
There is also an ongoing problem with people track-trespassing and being hit by trains, as well as people riding outside of trains and being hit. These incidents are on the rise, and MTA has made national news for recent incidents.
4. Injuries from Public Transit Accidents are Varied.
Motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents involving public transit can be much more dangerous than other car accidents due to the size of the bus. Whiplash, neck, spine, back, and head injuries are more common in bus accidents.
Meanwhile, common injuries that occur on public transit as a passenger include:
- Whiplash
- Sprained and torn ligaments
- Lacerations
- Broken bones
- Internal bleeding
- Spinal injuries
- Herniated discs
- Brain injuries
- Severed limbs
Injuries as a public transit passenger most commonly occur when getting on or off the bus, or when standing on the bus.
5. The Severity of Passenger Injuries is Linked to Driver Error and Less Urbanized Areas
A study published by The Journal of Safety Research analyzed various circumstances and passenger injuries to find links in severity. There were few correlations, but they did find that passenger injuries are more severe in both vehicle accidents and through the general use of public transit when drivers are speeding or lose control of the vehicle.
They also found that vehicle accidents with buses lead to more severe passenger injuries in less urban areas. While the study was done in Hong Kong, it sheds some light on how passenger injuries occur in public transit. Such studies are uncommon in the US, as bus and large truck accidents are typically linked together.
Let Denlea & Carton Review Your Public Transit Injury Case
Have you been in an accident involving public transit? Whether you were a rider, driver, or pedestrian we can help you gain compensation for your injuries so you can focus on healing.
Our firm has years of experience helping the people of White Plains and the surrounding Westchester communities gain compensation for public transit accidents. If you were injured by public transit, contact us today at (914) 368-7168 for a free consultation.
