Get Legal Help If You Have Been Hurt in a New York Ferry Accident
The last thing you expect when you board the ferry on your commute is that you will be involved in an accident that could cause you serious injury, but that is always a risk in states like New York, which use ferries as a common form of transportation for people and vehicles. Ferries may collide with each other or other watercraft, they may crash into fixed objects like loading docks, and they can even sink or capsize as the result of malfunctions or defects.
Accidents happen on the water, just as they do on land, and may result in life-altering consequences. But these accidents may not be "accidents" at all. Ferry operator negligence or error, defective equipment, malfunctioning machinery, or even negligence on the part of the ferry company may all lead to devastating accidents, in which case an at-fault party may be held legally liable for the results. After a New York ferry accident caused by negligence, you should never have to face the financial, physical, and emotional burdens of recovery on your own.
Legal Options for Accident Victims in NY
If you or a loved one has suffered as the result of a ferry accident that was caused by the negligence of another, the NY attorneys at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP can analyze the details of your particular case to determine if you are entitled to legal action. We can help you decide on what the best course of action is for you and your family. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call us today at (212) 986-7353.
Reality of Ferry Accidents
Ferry accidents are not like car accidents. Most ferries can carry hundreds of passengers, increasing the likelihood of a large number of injuries or even deaths in the case of a collision or other type of incident. An impact can send passengers flying overboard, into other people, or against objects, resulting in a wide range of consequences, including, but not limited to:
- Brain injury;
- Spinal cord injury;
- Fractured bones;
- Drowning; and
- Lacerations.
The potential for such mass devastation makes it especially important for ferry companies and operators to exercise the utmost level of caution and care. This means that all ferry operators should be properly trained and be appropriately vetted, all ferries should be maintained according to the appropriate schedule and that any and all safety measures are taken to protect ferry passengers. Unfortunately, negligence in one or more of these areas can have tragic consequences.
Lower Manhattan Ferry Accident, January 2013
On January 9, 2013, a routine ferry commute from New Jersey ended in tragedy when the ferry crashed into a loading barge and then a second loading dock when landing at Pier 11 at Gouverneur Lane and South Street. Seventy-four people were injured, nine seriously, and two critically, and many were taken to area hospitals. The ferry, which is operated by Seastreak Ferry, was making its daily run from Atlantic Highlands and Conners Highlands in NJ to Lower Manhattan with more than 300 passengers, when the morning rush hour accident occurred. It was travelling between 11 and 16 miles per hour.
This incident demonstrates how devastating ferry accidents can be and how important it is for employees and administrators of ferry companies to take the appropriate steps to prevent them.
New York Lawyers Getting You the Compensation You Deserve
Being involved in a ferry accident can be traumatic and result in substantial changes to your way of life, but our New York accident lawyers at Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP are here to help you safeguard your future. We can determine fault in your boat accident and take the steps necessary to hold the at-fault parties accountable for the losses you've suffered. You do not deserve to suffer hardship as the result of another's negligence and we can help you get the money you need for the best possible recovery.
To find out if you have a New York ferry accident case, call us for a free consultation today at (212) 986-7353 or fill out our online contact form.