MTA Accident Lawyer

New York City has one of the world's biggest and busiest public transportation systems in the world. The network is so comprehensive and efficient that more than half of New Yorkers find it unnecessary to own a car.

The tradeoff is putting your safety in the hands of public employees who operate and maintain the trains, subways, and buses.

Raphaelson & Levine Law Firm has advocated successfully for hundreds of victims of MTA accidents and injuries involving the New York City Transit system (NYCT).

The MTA accident lawyers at our firm understand the short statute of limitations and other special considerations in bringing claims against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the Port Authority, or other governmental entities.

Our team of experienced MTA accident lawyers represents people seriously injured in mass transit accidents and throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, or Staten Island.

NEXT STEP: If you or someone you know has been seriously injured in an MTA accident, call (212) 268-3222 or contact us online for a free lawyer consultation.

Common types of MTA accidents in New York

While MTA accidents in NYC are rare, that’s of little comfort when it happens to you or a loved one.

MTA accidents can produce anything from minor injuries when you get stuck between the platform and a subway or train to serious injuries caused by vehicle accidents.

Whatever your situation, an MTA accident lawyer at the personal injury law firm of Raphaelson & Levine is available to help you now. Our accident attorneys will investigate your personal injury case to determine who is responsible for your pain and suffering.

As with all personal injury lawsuits involving public transportation, determining negligence can be the most challenging and time-consuming aspect of the case.

While it might seem like only the driver is to blame, company mechanics, the manufacturer, or supervisors who ordered the driver to transport people in an unsafe vehicle are just some possibilities of other parties who your personal injury attorneys may sue on your behalf.

Bus accident claims in New York City

Common types of MTA bus accident claims our NYC bus accident lawyers handle include:

• Crash with another vehicle that causes any type of injury. Typical causes of crashes include negligent hiring practices and fatigued driving.
• Passengers forced to stand on the bus due to lack of seating sustain serious injuries when the bus stops suddenly, and the force throws them to the ground.
• Serious bus accident injuries that occur when passengers board or disembark from the bus.

Although you have three years from the date of injury to file most personal injury lawsuits in New York, there are strict deadlines for claims that involve the MTA.

In most of these cases, a Notice of Claim must be filed within 90 days from the date of your accident, and the lawsuit generally must start within 1 year and 90 days. Claims against MTA Bus, the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North need no Notice of Claim but require a written demand at least 30 days before suing. Our New York City bus accident lawyers recommend that you act quickly.

While proving liability in any personal injury lawsuit is time-consuming, it can be even more so in a bus accident case against a bus controlled by the MTA or a part of the MTA like the New York City Transit Authority.

MORE: New York City bus accident lawyer

Injuries on the NYC Subway

Some common causes of subway accidents include:

• Broken stairs, elevators, or escalators
• Defective brakes or other equipment
• Door closing on a passenger
• Inexperienced driver
• Lack of regular maintenance and/or repairs
• Negligent security
• Slip and fall accident due to obstacles on platform
• Speeding driver
• Track damage

Fortunately, our New York City subway accident lawyers have over 34 years of experience helping clients with all types of serious accidents aboard the subway system.

Your NYC subway injury can include anything from soft tissue damage, broken bones, paralysis, brain injury, or even the death of a loved one.

Train accidents

As one of the busiest train systems in the country, NYC train accident victims often sustain injuries similar to those injured on the subway.

The train may even collide with another train or subway due to driver inexperience, poor maintenance of tracks, and other common reasons.

If you have sustained serious injuries in a New York City train accident, please don’t hesitate to contact the personal injury lawyers at our law office to discuss your next steps.

MORE: New York City train accident lawyer

Taxi collision accidents

Accidents involving a taxicab are often similar to any other car accident. Whether the driver was speeding or operating a defective vehicle doesn’t matter so much as your ability to collect fair compensation for your injuries.

Our taxicab accident attorneys are available 24/7 to provide you with a prompt case evaluation.

MORE: New York taxi accident lawyer

Who is eligible to sue?

An MTA accident lawyer at our firm works with all parties injured in mass transit accidents, whether they were a passenger or employee at the time.

The deadline depends on the claim and the entity involved. Claims against public transit authorities can have notice requirements and filing deadlines shorter than three years. Request a free consultation promptly to learn which rules apply.

Injured workers

For workers covered by New York’s workers’ compensation system, workers’ compensation is generally the exclusive remedy against their employer for a work-related injury. Disputes about benefits or medical care can be addressed through the Workers’ Compensation Board. Different rules may apply to railroad workers.

A claim may also be available against a third party whose negligence or other wrongful conduct caused the injury, such as a maintenance company or manufacturer. Contact our mass transit accident lawyer to discuss the circumstances of your case.

Injured passengers

An injured passenger may have a claim if a transit authority or another responsible party caused the accident. Notice requirements and filing deadlines vary by defendant and claim. Our transportation accident lawyer in NYC will evaluate your claim and advise you about the deadlines that apply.

Our MTA accident lawyers have helped hundreds of individuals win

• Bus accidents — We represent those injured while riding a New York City bus or MTA bus, as well as pedestrians or motorists injured in bus collisions.
• Subway accidents — Our team represents people seriously injured while riding the New York City subway or while waiting, boarding or exiting.
• Taxi accidents – Although taxicabs are not operated by the MTA, privately owned taxis play an integral part in getting around town.
• Train accidents — We handle cases involving collisions with commuter trains or injuries aboard the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Metro-North Railroad (MNR), Staten Island Railroad (SIR) or the AirTrain JFK.

We also represent train and bus drivers and other transit workers who are injured on the job. Railroad or Port Authority employees, for example, may be able to sue their employers or may have personal injury claims against third parties.

Our verdicts and settlements in mass transit litigation include a $5.325 million wrongful death settlement for the family of an AirTrain worker who was killed on the job.

Filing MTA injury claims for maximum compensation

While millions of New Yorkers use the public transit system every day without incident, accidents involving trains, subways, or buses tend to cause severe injuries.

With decades of experience, the resources and the fierce advocacy to take your case all the way to a jury in order to recover the maximum amount of compensation Raphaelson & Levine is equipped to handle catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases.

Claims involving public transit authorities may require a notice of claim within 90 days, as well as a lawsuit by a separate deadline. The rules depend on the entity and claim involved. Contact us promptly to confirm your deadlines.

Contact us as soon as possible to preserve your rights and important evidence.

NEXT STEP: Call (212) 268-3222 or contact us online for a free consultation with an experienced New York City mass transit accident lawyer.