A lawsuit filed by a nonprofit agency against the MTA can proceed according to the ruling of a judge in the New York State Supreme Court in June of this year. This lawsuit was filed against the MTA on behalf of disabled individuals with limited mobility who literally risk life and limb to access the MTA’s subways system in New York City. The suit claims that the City’s failure to provide access to the underground dramatically increases the risk (and real life incidents) of staircase accidents in New York City.
Less than 25% of the 472 subway stations are considered accessible for individuals who cannot use or find using stairs difficult. The lawsuit claims that this engineering flaw and the failure to correct it is in direct conflict with the New York City Human Rights Law and a clear case of discrimination.
While the lawsuit in question is a civil liberties case designed to hold the city accountable for not treating everyone equally, the real root of the case is the simple fact that disabled individuals who attempt to use these inaccessible subways stations have (and will continue) to suffer serious stairway accidents in New York City.
Such accidents can leave victims with:
- Broken bones
- Head Trauma
- Concussion
- Torn soft tissue (muscles, ligaments, tendons)
If a victim does suffer a fall while attempting to access a station, that victim has the right to hold the Transit Authority liable for their injuries. The Transit Authority is reasonably obligated to prevent such stairway accidents in New York by providing safe, well lit, and debris free conditions at the entrances to the underground. To that end, the MTA has fast-tracked improvements in line with plans to make at least 50 more stations accessible to disabled individuals by the end of 2030. However, the immediate risk is still very real.
If you’ve been injured on subway stairs, you need an experienced New York City staircase accident attorney on your side. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 for your free consultation today.