A February collision between an SUV and a commuter train near Valhalla, New York claimed six lives and left fifteen people injured. It also left New York residents with serious concerns: are the state’s train and subway systems a safer transportation option than walking or driving?
According to one Newsweek article, the answer is a qualified yes – but the statistics are still grim.
Between May 2013 and March 2014, New York’s commuter-rail system claimed six lives and injured 126 people. Although more commuters are injured in subway accidents each year, the Federal Railroad administration lists only 84 deaths on the LIRR and 43 on Metro-North between 2004 and 2013 – far fewer than the 248 deaths suffered in subway accidents in just the past three years.
Also, train accident deaths have been relatively steady over the past decade, even though ridership has increased, according to authorities. The greatest increase in train-related deaths has been in “rail crossing fatalities,” in which a person attempting to cross the tracks is hit by a train. For passengers, train deaths are rare – but injuries are more common, and either a death or an injury can wreak havoc on the life of a passenger’s entire family.
At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP, our experienced New York train accident attorneys are dedicated to protecting the legal rights of every client we represent as we fight for the compensation you deserve. If you’ve been injured by a train, contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.