Minnesota commuters may have heard that a Long Island Rail Road commuter train crashed in Brooklyn, New York, on Jan. 4. The incident occurred around 8:15 a.m. at the Atlantic Terminal.
During a news conference, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the train hit the track’s bumping block at a “fairly low rate of speed” as it entered the terminal. The collision caused the lead wheel assembly and one additional axle to derail, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. One of the rails reportedly pierced the bottom of the train.
The MTA said approximately 430 passengers were on the train at the time of the derailment. Just over 100 people were injured in the incident, none of them critically. The Federal Railroad Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
On Sept. 29, 2016, another commuter train crashed at the Hoboken Terminal in New Jersey, killing one bystander and damaging part of the terminal. Cuomo said the Brooklyn crash was “minor” in comparison.
There have been numerous train accidents across the United States in recent years, causing hundreds of catastrophic injuries. According to investigators, the causes of these crashes have included negligent track maintenance, distracted or fatigued railroad workers, speed and other factors. Individuals injured in a train accident may have grounds to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the railroad company and others deemed responsible for the crash. If successful, an injured victim could be awarded financial compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related damages. Victims could learn more about filing a personal injury claim by consulting with an attorney.
ABC News, “LIRR Commuter Train Crashes in Brooklyn; Over 100 Injured,” Emily Shapiro, Jan. 4, 2017