BROOKLYN, NY – A pedestrian was injured when a basket used to catch falling debris fell from an elevated platform on Sunday.
The accident occurred at 11:46 a.m. on August 2nd when workers were performing maintenance on the elevated subway platform at Alabama Avenue near Fulton Street. During maintenance, a loosened metal debris basket fell onto a pedestrian standing below the track.
The pedestrian sustained severe injuries and was taken to Jamaica Hospital for treatment. The individual is reportedly in stable condition.
Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) spokesman Aaron Donovan claims this is an isolated incident caused by ongoing maintenance on the East New York J subway line, per the New York Daily News. Donovan stated that the MTA is currently conducting a thorough investigation to prevent future injuries.
In 2019, the MTA installed approximately 325,000 baskets underneath elevated subway platforms across New York. This was done in response to numerous injuries caused by equipment falling from the tracks. However, in October of 2019, the MTA found that many of the baskets were improperly installed and may put New York residents in danger.
The MTA plans to build a protective netting underneath the tracks to replace the faulty baskets. However, this project has been put on hold due to COVID-19.
Filing a Claim Against the MTA
Subway and bus accidents involving the MTA are unfortunately common throughout New York City. Passengers are often hurt while riding the trains, buses, or a pedestrian may be injured in an avoidable accident in or near a station.
In most states, government agencies are protected by “sovereign immunity,” a policy that prevents accident victims from suing the government for negligence. Fortunately, the state of New York has waived their right to sovereign immunity, so you can pursue legal action if the MTA’s negligence caused your injury. However, holding government agencies, like the MTA, accountable when injury accidents happen can be challenging.
To successfully recover compensation from New York government agencies, you need to work with an experienced attorney who understands New York’s specific protections for those hurt in MTA accidents.
It is crucial to note that you have only 90 days to submit your Notice of Claim if you’ve been injured. A standard Notice of Claim contains information about the accident, including:
- Personal information
- Contact information for your attorney
- Description of the accident
- Time and location of the accident
- Types of injuries and property damage caused by the accident
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Bronx, NY
The attorneys at Oresky & Associates PLLC have over 30 years of experience helping those who’ve been hurt in accidents involving debris in New York. We know how MTA claims work and we will put our skills and experience to work for you. If you need legal assistance, contact the Bronx personal injury lawyers at Oresky & Associates, PLLC at your nearest location to schedule a free consultation.
We have two convenient locations in New York:
Oresky & Associates, PLLC – Bronx Office
149 E 149th St
Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 993-9999
Oresky & Associates, PLLC – Queens Office
104-09 Roosevelt Ave
Queens, NY 11368
(347) 507-3884
