Who can be held responsible for mass transit accidents?

Many people in New York rely on public transportation, such as buses or the subway, to get where they need to go. After all, driving in New York can be a real hassle, and if you do not have a car, you likely rely on mass transit services to get to work, do your shopping and attend appointments. However, mass transit is not always safe, and accidents do occur. The following are two examples of liability in mass transit accident cases.

Example 1: The drowsy bus driver

Operating a bus, just like operating any other vehicle, requires a person’s full attention and focus. But bus drivers like anyone else can suffer from a poor night’s sleep, resulting in drowsiness. What happens if this drowsiness leads to a bus crash that injures passengers? Who can be held liable? Well, it may be possible to hold the bus driver responsible. But if it is found that the government operating the bus system was negligent in the hiring or training of the bus driver then it may be possible to hold that government entity responsible as well.

Example 2: Faulty wiring

Many mass transit services, such as trains and subways, rely on electric components in the vehicles and tracks in order to operate safely. What happens, then, if the wiring in a subway catches fire, causing the subway to derail, injuring passengers? In this type of situation it may be responsible to hold the third-party contractor who was responsible for the electrical problem liable for the crash.

Learn more about mass transit accidents

Mass transit accidents have the potential to be catastrophic because they can injure many people. Ultimately this post is for educational purposes only and does not contain legal advice. Our firm’s webpage on mass transit accidents may be a good resource for those who want more information on this topic.