Over 40 lawsuits have been filed against NJ Transit by the people who were injured in the September 29, 2016 Hoboken train crash. One person was killed and more than 100 others injured when a commuter train sped into the terminal and crashed through a bumping post. The individuals who filed suit include people who were on the train and on the platform.
After the incident, the train’s driver, Thomas Gallagher, was found in the engineer’s compartment, alive but unconscious. In a post-accident investigation, The National Transportation Board (NTSB) concluded that Mr. Gallagher suffered from severe obstructive sleep apnea, which is a potentially serious sleep disorder that can cause fatigue and drowsiness. The investigation also revealed that NJ Transit had failed to properly screen Mr. Gallagher for the condition in a physical exam.
More than 45 lawsuits related to the crash have been filed. Common injuries cited in the lawsuits include cuts, concussions, fractures, post-traumatic stress disorder, and back, neck, and facial injuries. The lawsuits claim NJ Transit was at fault for not properly screening Mr. Gallagher for his sleep apnea, and for the lack of a speed-control system that could have automatically braked the train before it reached the end of the track. Mr. Gallagher was also named as a defendant in some of the lawsuits.
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed due to the negligence of someone else, it is important to find a skilled law firm with experience handling personal injury cases. The law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner is the oldest personal injury firm in Texas, and our attorneys are standing by to assist with your claim. Call us today at (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211 for your free consultation.