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Who’s Responsible if You Slip and Fall at a Subway Station?

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Millions of New Yorkers take the subway on a daily basis to get to work, school, home, and everywhere else they need to go. Unfortunately, subway stations are not always properly maintained or cleaned — and slip and fall accidents sometimes arise as a result. If you were hurt in a slip and fall at a subway station, you may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party to recover compensation for your monetary damages and your pain and suffering.

Common Causes of Slip and Fall Accidents in Subway Stations

Due to overcrowding, poor maintenance, and inclement weather, subway stations are full of slip-and-fall risks. These accidents can occur on stairs, platforms, turnstiles, and corridors. While some falls result from an unfortunate incident, others are caused by the negligence of the New York City Transit Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or another party.

Common causes of slip and fall accidents in subway stations that may be attributed to negligence can include the following:

  • Poor lighting
  • Broken tiles
  • Debris on floors
  • Uneven flooring
  • Damaged handrails
  • Broken steps
  • Leaks
  • Lack of warning signs
  • Inadequate maintenance

Subway station slip and fall accidents can lead to serious injuries, including broken bones, spinal cord damage, brain damage, paralysis, broken teeth, nerve damage, and permanent disability. Often, these types of injuries require extensive medical treatment, physical rehabilitation, and time out of work. They can also cause a victim to experience considerable physical pain, emotional anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life. In such cases, it’s vital to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover your damages.

Liability and Damages for Subway Slip and Falls

If you were hurt in a slip and fall at a subway station, the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) or Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) may be held liable in a personal injury lawsuit for failure to maintain safe premises. However, for liability to attach, it must be demonstrated that the authority knew (or should have known) about the hazardous condition and failed to fix it or warn about it.

Depending on the facts and circumstances of the accident, there may be other parties who should be held accountable for a subway slip and fall accident. For instance, a cleaning contractor or construction company performing work at the subway station may be held liable if they created a hazard — or failed to remedy or warn about a dangerous condition they were responsible for repairing.

A victim of a slip and fall at a subway station may be entitled to recover a broad scope of damages in their case, including unreimbursed medical expenses, lost wages, out-of-pocket costs, and pain and suffering damages. But since these lawsuits involve a City authority, it’s important to understand that there are specific procedures that must be followed, and much shorter statutes of limitation govern them. In such cases, you have 90 days to file a Notice of Claim, which is a prerequisite to commencing a lawsuit against a City agency or authority. You then have one year and 90 days to pursue a personal injury action to recover compensation.

Contact an Experienced New York Personal Injury Attorney

Filing a personal injury lawsuit against the NYCTA, MTA, or another party for a subway station slip and fall can be complex. It’s best to have a knowledgeable personal injury attorney by your side who can help you navigate the process and work to recover the compensation you deserve. The Dearie Law Firm, P.C., has represented victims of negligence for over three decades and provides dedicated advocacy to obtain the best possible outcome in each unique case. Contact us today for a consultation.

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