Biggest Risks in Subway TravelA study published in the Journal of Urban Health examines the safety risks of traveling on subway lines.  With 7 million passengers each day taking a total of 1.7 billion rides annually, New York has the largest metro system in the United States and the seventh largest in the world.  Safety on the city’s subway transit lines is a major concern for New Yorkers and for all who visit the city.

The study reviewed previous work done on health and safety risks associated with subway travel.  The researchers’ goal was to identify and clarify the biggest safety risks that subway passengers face, as well as to identify possible ways to reduce or eliminate these risks in order to make subway transit safer.

The study identified “general safety” as the biggest risk for subway passengers.  Grouped under this heading are most of the common causes of accidents.  Slip and fall injuries can be caused by busy walkways, especially if they are in bad condition or littered with debris.  Crowded stairs or escalators can also lead to a fall, and narrow platforms increase the risk that a passenger will end up too close to the edge of the platform to avoid injury by an oncoming train.  Researchers estimated that 20 to 60 passenger deaths occur each year due to preventable “general safety” problems.

The study also examined the risks of violence in subway stations and on trains, including the risk of terrorist attacks.  However, researchers concluded that while metro lines should take violent altercations into account when making safety plans, violence is less likely to be the cause of a subway injury than faulty equipment, fall hazards, or inadequate safety signage.

At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, our experienced New York subway accident lawyers are dedicated to helping each of our clients pinpoint the causes of a subway injury and fight for the compensation they deserve.  Contact us today to learn more.

Posted in: Subway Accident