Long Island Attorneys Help Victims of Bus, Train and Taxi Accidents

Legal team experienced at complex public transportation claims across New York

transportation

Millions of people use New York City buses, trains, subways, taxis and shared rides including Uber and Lyft every day to get to work, school and other destinations. With so many people and vehicles swarming the rails, roads, bridges and tunnels, it’s not surprising that collisions frequently occur, whether in transit or when passengers are boarding or exiting vehicles. From our Brooklyn and Uniondale offices, the attorneys at The Licatesi Law Group, LLP help clients injured in transportation accidents obtain fair compensation from the parties responsible. We help not only bus and rail passengers but also pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and motor vehicle passengers and drivers across the state, including Long Island and the 5 boroughs.

Common carriers in New York City

Public and private transportation providers are considered common carriers and are highly regulated by the government. The principal carriers are:

  • Taxi, Uber and Lyft — Livery services are governed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, and they must be insured with bodily injury coverage of at least $100,000 per person. Aggressive driving by cabbies has the potential to cause serious accidents.
  • Buses — The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) runs a fleet of some 5,600 buses throughout New York City. A 12-ton bus can cause extensive injuries, even in a seemingly minor accident.
  • Trains — The city owns the subway system’s 36 lines. Other rail carriers are the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), Metro-North Railroad (MNR), Staten Island Railroad (SIR) and the AirTrain JFK. Trains travel at high speeds, have many moving parts and can expose passengers to a variety of risks.

Our attorneys understand the intricacies of bringing personal injury claims against public agencies like those engaged in providing transportation in New York.

Causes of transportation accidents

Accidents involving public transportation can happen in myriad ways, such as:

  • Failure to heed traffic rules — Train conductors who go too fast, ignore signals or otherwise operate in violation of safety protocols are prone to cause serious accidents. Bus drivers and other operators of surface transportation must follow the rules of the road.
  • Distracted/impaired driving — Texting, talking on the phone, drinking, grooming, using GPS and talking to passengers are all distractions that can lead to accidents.
  • Driver exhaustion — Operating a vehicle with insufficient sleep or rest between work shifts has led to both rail and road collisions.
  • Poor maintenance — Failure to subject vehicles to regular inspections to ensure a safe operating condition is a common cause of mishaps.
  • Lack of training — Driving vehicles engaged in transportation of passengers requires special training and demonstrated skills, without which their riders’ safety is compromised.

Just as in auto accident cases, fault may be apportioned among the parties involved, including passengers and pedestrians who behave negligently.

Get the information you need from an established Long Island public transportation accident attorney.

Who is liable in a public transportation accident

Transportation companies and their drivers owe a heightened duty of care to their passengers. Proving negligence in a case against a bus, train, Uber, Lyft or taxi company requires showing that the carrier breached that duty of care, causing injury to a rider or other person.

Companies and governmental agencies will move quickly to limit their liability after an accident. Our attorneys can help protect your rights by immediately commencing an investigation. We gather witness statements, expert testimony, inspection records and police reports. Whether you suffer a minor or catastrophic injury, we will apply our extensive knowledge of New York law and complex insurance claims.

Time is of the essence. In New York, injury victims only have a 90-day window to file a notice of claim against the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or any other public transportation provider. All personal injury suits, including those against private carriers, are subject to New York’s three-year statute of limitations.

Contact our dedicated Long Island accident attorneys for a free consultation

To learn how The Licatesi Law Group, LLP can help you seek recovery for bus, train, Uber, Lyft and taxi accident injuries, take advantage of a free consultation and case evaluation with our dedicated attorneys. We help accident victims across New York, including the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island, as well as Nassau and Suffolk counties. Call us for a free consultation at 516-227-2662 or contact our Uniondale or Brooklyn offices online.