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Crimes and Accidents on the New York City Subway

Personal Injury

As the old song goes, in New York City, The Bronx is up, but the Battery is down. The northernmost part of New York City is the Wakefield section of the Bronx, and the southern tip is Ward’s Point in the Tottenville section of Staten Island.

The New York City Subway System is Vast

Wakefield also happens to be the northernmost station in the New York City transit system, being the terminal for the Number 2 train.  Tottenville is also the southern terminal of the Staten Island Railway.  Including Wakefield and Tottenville, there are 472 distinct stations in the New York City Subway system. Another 21 stations on the separate and self-contained Staten Island Railway.

In the New York City Subway System, there are 424 stations. Thirty-two of the stations have multiple stations, called Transfer Stations, combined into one station complex. For instance, the 14th Street/Union Square station is three distinct stations.  One for the 4, 5, and 6 trains, one for the L train, and another for the N, Q, R, and W.

Transfer Points Have Potentially Dangerous Corridors

Often these transfer points include long corridors that might be more than a city-block long. These corridors are often areas of concern for people moving from one station to another, especially during non-rush hour times when the stations have less activity.

Subway stations can be dangerous places.  On February 2, 2020, a woman was clipped by a subway car at the 34th Street station, knocking her onto the tracks.  Her injuries were not life-threatening.  Within a week of this accident, there were two other incidents.  In the last week of January, a woman was attacked and pushed onto the tracks at the Borough Hall Station in Brooklyn, where police arrested a homeless man for the attack.  That same day, a woman was attacked by a couple at the C train’s West 155th Street station.  The police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.  The police and investigators believe that the couple attacked the woman for being transgender.

Crime on the Subway is Still a Major Problem

In 2019, the New York City Subway saw increases in four major crime areas, including murder and rape.  Robberies are way up, as are felony assaults.  These numbers are out of line with the rest of New York City.  Three of these areas saw decreases over the last year, with only felony assault up by 0.2%.

On the Subway, crime is not the only problem. There were several significant incidents where people were hit and killed by trains in cases other than attempted suicide.  These incidents include a 2-year-old who was hit and died at the Fulton Street Station in December, with other fatal accidents in February, April and November of 2019.

New York and the MTA are Responsible for Your Safety

New York City has a responsibility to keep New Yorkers safe while utilizing the city’s transit system.  Many of these platforms are aging and are not well lit.  In many stations, especially those further from midtown Manhattan, stairs are in disrepair, and corridors are filled with homeless, drugs, and other hazards to people just trying to get to work in the morning.

Call the Law Offices of Marc S. Albert for a Free Consultation

If you have been injured while riding on the New York City Subways, whether it is a slip and fall due to broken stairs or unsafe slippery conditions, or an accident involving a train other MTA equipment, or you have been injured as a victim during the commission of a crime, call the Law Offices of Marc S. Albert.

Marc Albert is well-versed and experienced in working with people injured due to negligence by local transportation systems.  Marc has also represented victims of violent crimes where the crime was able to occur due to unsafe and unprotected environments.  Call the Law Offices of Marc S. Albert for a free consultation at 855.252.3788.