On May 17, 2009, a woman’s life was changed forever when she was run over by a New York City subway. This tragedy was compounded because it was completely avoidable. The 43 year-old woman was exiting a subway at the 125 Street subway station located on the east side of Manhattan at Lexington Avenue when, according to the New York Post and eyewitnesses, she fainted and toppled onto the tracks, landing between two subway cars.
What happened as she helplessly lay on the subway tracks is difficult to fathom, especially considering how technology has advanced over the years, advancements that seem to have eluded the New York City Transit Authority. Witnesses alerted a police officer and the officer notified the person working in the nearby booth. The Transit Authority employee then notified the rail-control center that there was a person laying on the tracks with a medical condition and that all subways should stop operating on the Lexington Avenue IRT line. Inexplicably, one conductor on that line failed to heed this warning and continued barreling down the subway tracks. The subway ran over this victim, crushing her body and severing her leg well above the knee.
The victim was rushed to Harlem Hospital, where she was treated and then transferred to Bellevue Hospital. Sadly, she has sustained a near-complete amputation to her leg, multiple fractures, head injuries and has already endured multiple surgeries. She has a very long and challenging recovery period ahead of her.
The victim and her family have retained the New York catastrophic personal injury law firm of Block O’Toole & Murphy to protect them. New York personal injury trial lawyer Daniel P. O’Toole, of Block O’Toole & Murphy, promises a thorough investigation. “We will be methodical, leaving no stone unturned. The Transit Authority needs to be held accountable. This tragedy should have been avoided and it seems like these accidents are happening with greater frequency. Their technology has to do a better job of protecting people,” said O’Toole. The catastrophic injury lawyers at Block O’Toole & Murphy are investigating the case and looking for witnesses to the accident. The firm is inviting those with information about this tragic accident to contact them immediately. “This is a call to New Yorkers that can help this family. ‘If you saw something, say something’,” said Stephen Murphy, another trial lawyer at Block O’Toole & Murphy.
Block O’Toole & Murphy is one of the premier personal injury law firms in New York City. Their experienced team of New York trial lawyers are devoted to truly caring for and fighting for the rights of their clients. The law firm of Block O’Toole & Murphy handles referrals for catastrophic injury cases on behalf of other lawyers and firms.