Subway Accident Types You Need An Attorney For
3 min read
Subway accidents are much more common than you might believe. And unfortunately, they can lead to some really serious injuries we do not want to have to deal with.
Different subway accident types could result in passengers, railroad workers, and bystanders being injured. The injuries do range from very mild to lethal. According to subway accident lawyers in Washington DC, very common subway accident types involve:
- Closing doors
- Defective equipment
- Broken equipment
- Crashes
- Slips
- Falls
- Trips
- Operator negligence
- Operator error
- Electrocutions
- Sudden stops
- Derailments
Passenger Injuries
This can include several different things, like loss of limbs, fractures, neck injuries, internal injuries, spinal injuries, and traumatic head injuries. In rare situations, even electrocution can appear.
As a passenger, you are at a higher risk of being injured during subway derailment or crashes. Derailment injuries can appear because of broken glass, the actual impact, or debris that appeared. Sometimes, the injuries can also appear because the victim came into contact with electrical rails or electrical wires. Obviously, any injury can become dangerous.
Onboard Passenger Injuries
Most of these appear when the subway suddenly stops or from when you lean on the doors. It is recommended that you always hold on as you ride in a standing position. This will do wonders at minimizing injury possibilities.
Boarding Injuries
In most cases, these happen because subway doors have a mechanical malfunction. You can also end up getting caught between the closing doors. Alternatively, some items of yours can get caught between the doors, like bags, purses, umbrellas, or clothes.
Remember that subway doors will not automatically reopen, like with most modern elevators. Also, passengers should never ride on the actual subway cars. This is illegal and can lead to very serious accidents.
Platform Bystanders
As a bystander, you are at a high risk of being injured when the subway train derails or crashes. You might also stand way too close to platform edges. Bystanders might fall onto tracks. Also, edges need to be marked. But, even if they are not, try to stay away until the subway comes to a full stop.
Mechanical Failures
These are rare but they can happen and they can easily lead to serious injuries. This includes problems with practically everything related to the subway system, from tracks to lighting, turnstiles, and elevators. As an example, the escalator can end up malfunctioning and injuring you.
When referring to mechanical failures, we also include the equipment that is placed inside the subway train. Problems can appear with brakes, lighting, communication systems, or doors.
What To Do When Injured
It does not matter if your injury is serious or not. If something happened to you and it was not your fault, you need to contact an experienced subway accident attorney as soon as possible. You have to be careful and you need to get the medical treatment you require.
The subway accident lawyer will be able to take care of everything related to the law so you can focus solely on your recovery. This is something that is very important at the end of the day, especially when referring to situations in which subway authorities might be responsible. Insurance companies can get involved.
