New Jersey Mass Transit Accident Lawyers
Personal Injury Lawyers Filing Claims for Injuries Caused by Mass Transit Accidents in Howell, Red Bank, Freehold, Manalapan, Belmar, Holmdel, Middletown, and throughout Monmouth and Ocean County, NJ
Thousands of New Jersey residents use mass transit, such as buses, trains, subways, and light rail. Many folks use mass transit for economic reasons. Cars are expensive, and car insurance, maintenance, parking, and fuel are budget busters. Mass transit users find savings when they purchase passes in bulk instead of every day. Those fare-saver tickets can make a difference. Many people use mass transit because it saves them time as they avoid the stop-and-go traffic in the morning and evening commutes. Using mass transit increases traffic flow by decreasing the number of vehicles on the road. It is for that reason that pollution and our carbon footprint are distinctly lessened by using mass transit. Lastly, being a passenger rather than a driver allows one to rest, read, text, work, or watch videos and social media during the trip.
Chamlin, Uliano, and Walsh is a recognized New Jersey law firm with over five decades of experience in personal injury law, including serving mass transit passengers, motorists, and pedestrians who have been injured in accidents involving public transportation. Having been established in 1960, our attorneys have been committed to tirelessly serving our clients, with the knowledge to handle your claim and seek the optimal outcome. We offer a free initial consultation and are prepared to explore your legal options for compensation if you have been injured in a mass transit accident in Keansburg, Rumson, Belmar, Eatontown, Lincroft, Hazlet, and throughout Southern New Jersey. Contact us online or call (732) 440-3950 to talk about your case with an experienced New Jersey personal injury lawyer.
How Mass Transit Accidents Occur in New Jersey
There are many causes of mass transit accidents, such as broken or defective equipment, driver error, a driver who is impaired due to drug or alcohol use, a driver or transit employee who is distracted or fatigued, or due to structural damage to the vehicle, tracks, or related equipment. Other less likely causes are severe weather, intentional conduct meant to damage the buses, trains, or tracks, and unpredictable circumstances such as an obstacle or person in front of the bus or train.
Prevalent Types of Mass Transit Accidents
The most common types of bus accidents are due to driver error. Bus accidents occur on the same road where regular traffic is. Making a left turn across oncoming traffic, eating, drinking, looking at a cell phone, talking on the phone, or talking with passengers can cause an accident. Bus drivers are human and may lose their temper with another driver as they are overtaken by road rage and maneuver the bus unsafely. A driver cannot be blamed for an accident in inclement weather but can be held accountable for driving carelessly despite the conditions.
The most common subway accidents are usually caused by a sudden stop to avoid hitting an obstacle (or a person) on the tracks. Derailments or an accident on the subway platform are less common but do occur. Subway accidents are caused by poor maintenance, faulty equipment, and poor installation. Sometimes, accidents have nothing to do with the subway itself but an assault on a train, theft, or getting stuck between the doors.
The most common types of train accidents are due to mechanical failures. This includes broken signals, brake malfunctions, poorly maintained tracks, engine failure, and derailment. Train accidents are hazardous because of the rate of speed at which they travel. A derailment can result in severe injuries and, in some cases, death. Other types of train accidents are due to engineering mistakes, inadequate train security, and operator negligence resulting in a collision.
Frequent Injuries Resulting from Mass Transit Accidents
Mass transit users are at a disadvantage to those riding in a vehicle because vehicles have seatbelts. An accident on a train or a bus will move its passengers like rice in a rattle, causing more severe injuries at lower speeds than in a car. Injuries can range from minor lacerations and bruises to exposed fractures, crush injuries, TMI (Traumatic Brain Injury), internal bleeding, broken ribs, pneumothorax (collapsed lung), and burns. These injuries could cause paralysis, cognitive damage, or permanent disabilities.
What to Do Immediately After Being Involved in a Mass Transit Accident in NJ
After an accident, it is vital to document everything that happened. Call 911 to obtain help from paramedics and the police. Contact transit personnel, especially if you are on a subway or train, to prevent anyone traveling behind you from colliding with your stopped train. Record what happened. Use your phone’s voice audio feature and talk as if you were explaining the incident to someone else. Be as detailed as possible. If you can, take pictures of the accident scene and take witness information, which can be vital in winning your case. Seek medical attention. You may not have any pain at the moment of the accident, but when your adrenaline rush slows down to a trickle, you may experience more pain than before.
Then, seeking out a knowledgeable attorney is vital to ensure that you do not miss critical deadlines in filing a claim for your injuries. First, a notice to file a claim against the New Jersey Transit or Port Authority must be turned in to the correct department within 90 days of the accident. Failure to do so can mean you won’t be allowed to sue the people who caused your injuries. The lawyers at our firm can do that immediately and keep your lawsuit on track.
Injured in a Mass Transit Accident in NJ? Call Our West Long Branch Personal Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation
At Chamlin, Uliano, and Walsh, you are our priority. Our goal is to help you receive the compensation you are truly entitled to for mass transit accident injuries, including those for medical expenses, lost wages, physical pain, lost future earnings, permanent disability, scarring, and emotional suffering such as PTSD. Our seasoned professionals are ready to negotiate or litigate, and we won’t get paid until you do.
Our years of experience representing clients who have been injured in all manner of accidents in Manasquan, Middletown, Freehold, Manalapan, Wall, Holmdel, Colts Neck, and elsewhere in Southern New Jersey means our lawyers can be the difference you need as we go through this process with you. Call (732) 440-3950 or reach out to us online for a free review of your case.