New York Subway Track Dangers: Subway Safety Tips

This week we covered the story of a Brooklyn man who was seriously injured during a fall onto the subway tracks followed by electrocution by the third rail. Unfortunately, these two types of subway platform accidents – falls and electrocution – are somewhat common throughout New York City, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and the Bronx.

How can you avoid being injured on a subway platform or being struck by a train? While some accidents can’t be prevented, the number of subway accidents and deaths could be minimized if everyone who used the subway was familiar with simple subway safety.

• Don’t walk on the edge of the subway platform. A slip, trip, or fall could cause you to fall onto the tracks, which is the absolute most dangerous place to be in a subway station.
• If you drop something on the tracks, do not try to retrieve it yourself. No matter how important the item that you dropped is, call the MTA about a lost item instead of putting yourself in danger.
• Be aware of the dangers of the third rail. The third rail carries a high voltage and has been linked to a number of electrocution injuries and deaths in past years. Be aware of where the third rail is on the tracks – and stay very far away from it.
• Mind the gap. While the gap between the train and the platform may seem small, hundreds of people are injured each year when they step into the gap while boarding or leaving a train.

Subway accidents can lead to serious injuries and death. While some subway accidents are simply just accidents, others could have been prevented if not for the actions of someone else, the MTA, or another negligent party. If you or a loved one has been injured while riding the subway, contact an experienced NYC accident attorney today.