New York City is one of the most popular cities for tourists in America, and with over eight million people residing in the city, it’s pretty packed all of the time. The city is special in the fact that it’s one of the few in America where owning a vehicle is very literally optional. Subways provide transportation at any hour to any part of the city, but it’s absolutely imperative for people, tourists or otherwise, to know how to stay safe while on their daily commute.
How Safe is the Subway?
Many tourists have the common misconception that the subways of New York City are a dangerous place to be, but this simply isn’t true. Crime on the subway has drastically decreased over the past few decades, but for some reason, the idea of an unsafe subway still exists. In fact, the majority of crimes committed on subway trains are pickpocketing scenarios, and many of these occur when the victim falls asleep on their commute.
The danger of crime, however, obviously isn’t the only thing a person may fear on the subway. There’s always the chance that someone could experience an accident during their way to work. It’s important to note, however, that the subway is one of the safest ways to commute.
Many people became worried when they heard that over 140 people were hit by subway trains in 2011, but this number alone leaves out many facts. For instance, the statistic means that a person was hit by a train every 2.5 days in the city. This is very telling considering the fact that over five million people ride the subway daily. In addition to this, information was not immediately released on how many of these victims had self-inflicted accidents. While it is possible for a person to experience an injury or become the victim of a crime on the NYC subway, it is statistically highly unlikely.
Staying Safe on the Subway
There are numerous things that a person can do to stay safe on NYC subways.
-Stay Awake As mentioned earlier, a large number of pickpocketing incidents that occur on NYC subways happen when criminals notice commuters sleeping. There are frequent public service announcements in the city advising people to stay awake on the subway.
-Watch that Step The gap that exists between the platform and an awaiting train can sometimes be up to ten inches wide or wider. It’s imperative to take notice of these gaps. Falling into this gap can sadly lead to death if a person manages to fall to the electrified rail. Make sure to stand back from the platform as well until the train has come to a complete stop.
-Late Night Traveling Platforms tend to get more deserted at night. Standing near others on the platform or in the off-hours waiting area is important and greatly decreases the chance of a crime occurring. Off-hours waiting areas have cameras, are well lit and provide a public telephone.
-Watch for Debris Subway stations and platforms may have debris on them that increases the chances of a slip and fall accident. Every person should stay aware and watch where they’re walking.
Handling an Accident on the Subway
Anyone who is injured on the subway should make a note of exactly where they are. This includes noting the platform or stairway that is closest to them. It’s also pertinent to get contact information from any witnesses to the event if possible. This information will be important if an injury was caused by negligence on the part of another party.
It’s usually a good idea to get an attorney after any type of accident or assault that occurs on the NYC subway. These types of incidents may end up causing a person thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages at work and serious injuries that could affect the rest of their life. Most individuals will need to file a Notice of Claim within 90 days if they hope to be reimbursed for their injuries, so reaching an attorney quickly for a personal injury in New York is imperative.
No one should think that they’re taking advantage of the system by doing this. The simple fact is that these claims are what make the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) create a safer environment on the subway. If no one ever filed a claim against the MTA for injuries that the Authority may have been liable for, then the subways of New York City would’ve never gotten safer.
New York is the most populous city in America, something easily seen every day in subway stations throughout the metropolis. Public transportation there is, just like in every other part of America, much safer than driving a vehicle. It’s important to note, however, that injuries can still occur. Knowing how to avoid these injuries and how to properly respond to them is essential for anyone hoping to have fun or live in the Big Apple.
A former news reporter, Ann Bailey encourages visitors to enjoy New York and heed these steps for safety on the subways. The Perecman Firm, PLLC represents victims of personal injury in New York, fighting for their just compensation from any party at fault in the situation.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/6675531719/
