Public transportation is an important part of the lives of Americans. According to the American Public Transportation Association, in 2014, Americans took 10.8 billion trips on public transportation – the highest in 58 years. Since 1995, the use of public transportation is up more than 39 percent, outpacing population growth. More than 7,200 organizations provide public transportation throughout the nation. 
The New York public transportation network is one of the country’s most extensive forms of transportation. Approximately, one in every three users of mass transit in the United States and two-thirds of the nation’s rail riders are residents of New York City, or its suburbs. However, as popular as mass transportation may be, some passengers get injured in public transportation accidents all the time.
Most Common Causes of Mass Transit Injuries
People rely on mass transit to get to work, school, sporting events, shopping and more. When you depend on mass transit to take you to your destination, you don’t expect to get injured in an accident. State and federal laws closely regulate most common carriers. These laws hold common carriers, such as buses, subways and taxis, to a high duty of care to their passengers. Despite these strict laws, accidents still happen, injuring thousands of passengers every day.
The most common causes of public transportation accidents include:
- Collisions with other vehicles or solid objects
- Slipping, tripping and falling
- Criminal actions of other passengers
Common Injuries Suffered in Mass Transit Accidents
If you were injured in an accident while taking public transportation, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your losses. Some common injuries passengers suffer during public transportation accidents include:
- Fractured or broken bones
- Back and neck injuries
- Sprained and torn ligaments
- Lacerations, contusions and abrasions
- Herniated disks
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Head and brain injuries
- Death
Regardless of what type of injury you suffered while taking public transportation, you may be entitled to compensation. An experienced attorney can help you determine whether you are entitled to recover money damages for your medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering, and any other out of pocket expenses you may have incurred.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Personal Injury Claim
If you or a loved one has been injured from a mass transit accident, you only have a specific amount of time (known as the statute of limitations) to file a personal injury claim. The statute of limitations filing differs for non-public transportation.
In order to timely file your claim and to avoid begin forever barred from seeking compensation for your injuries, it is imperative to immediately consult with an attorney who is experienced in this field of law. The time period to file a public transport injury claim can be as little as 30 to 60 days. As such, it is crucial to contact an attorney.
Call Us Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in a public transportation accident, we can help. For more information or to consult with one of our experienced New York mass transit accident attorneys, please call Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. at 1-800-529-9997.
