First Lawsuit Filed in Wake of Hoboken Train Crash

A NJ Transit train crash in Hoboken September 29 made national news after one person was killed and more than 100 people injured. Now, several weeks later, the first lawsuit has been filed against NJ transit, with “scores more” expected to follow.

The first plaintiff is a 66-year-old man from Tenafly, New Jersey. He reportedly suffered severe injuries in the accident, including a partially ripped-off finger and deep gashes in his head. The man says he was sitting in the middle of the first car and was actually sleeping when the train was coming in for a stop. He awoke to a terrible screeching noise and a crumbling ceiling as the train collided with a barrier.

Investigations into the accident are ongoing

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is still conducting an investigation into the deadly accident, but some general facts have been revealed to the public. For instance, the train was traveling at twice its normal stopping speed when it slammed into a restraining barrier at the Hoboken station. The train’s engineer says he does not remember the crash.

NJ Transit has come under fire for being behind schedule in implementing Positive Train Control — a system that overrides the engineer if the train surpasses the designated speed limit. Lawmakers in Congress have ordered all train companies to have the technology in place by 2018, but critics say NJ Transit’s lack of action to get this technology incorporated into its operations may have been a contributing factor in the accident.

Other legal experts and critics are comparing this latest accident to the Amtrak accident in Philadelphia in 2015, which made national news after it led to eight deaths and more than 200 injuries.

If you or a loved one has been injured while using public transportation, you may be able to seek monetary damages. Meet with an experienced personal injury attorney at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP to learn more about your options.