Mass Transit Accidents

September 2, 2022

Man Dragged to His Death by Red Line Train in South Boston

In April 2022, a 39-year-old Boston man died after he became trapped in the door of a Red Line train and was dragged a short distance as the train left a platform in South Boston.

Unfortunately, these tragic incidents happen far too frequently and cause serious injury to innocent travelers, even though they are largely preventable.

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers believes that everyone should be able to use the MBTA’s systems and facilities safely and without incident. If you or a family member have been hurt in an MBTA subway or train dragging accident, we can help you recover maximum compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

April 25, 2018

Who Can File A Wrongful Death Lawsuit in Massachusetts

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Massachusetts state law is what controls the aspects of a wrongful death lawsuit that deals with who has the right to file the lawsuit in court. Typically, only immediate family members of the victim have standing to sue the person or entity that caused the death. But the definition of immediate family is something a court may have to decide in today’s more flexible familial standards.

For the most part, it is simple to determine the immediate family that will seek such a claim. These would be a spouse, including domestic partners, and children of the deceased.

A partner who is not married or registered domestic partner, may have to file a special request to the court to get permission to file a wrongful death lawsuit. The same special permission may be required for step children or parents. If you fall within one of these classifications, the other side will challenge your right to collect in a wrongful death lawsuit. This is why it is important to hire experienced Massachusetts personal injury attorneys for your case.

April 16, 2018

Massachusetts Turnpike Potholes Cause Trouble for Several Vehicles

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

In Sturbridge, a large pothole at Exit 9 of the Massachusetts Turnpike caused trouble for many vehicles on Monday. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation had to close down several lanes to fill in the pothole. The closure also affected the exit near Interstate 84 west.

The vehicles that came into contact with the potholes could not be moved and needed the assistance of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation emergency service patrol truck.

There is no information on whether any of the drivers suffered injuries.

April 15, 2018

Westwood Bridge Construction Site Accident Causes Serious Injuries

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Barletta construction workers were on a job location at the East Street Bridge in Westwood on Sunday afternoon. An employee was seriously injured in an accident, details of which were not yet released by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The workers were altering the bridge over East Street on which the Franklin Commuter Rail Line runs.

Along with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, State Police and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are looking into the incident.

April 15, 2018

Memorial Drive Train Crossing Fatality in Springfield (Update)

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Today, Hampden District Attorney representative James Leydon confirmed that the female who died in the train crossing on Memorial Drive just after 2 a.m. on Saturday was a Springfield resident named Kenisha Forbes.

Further details establish that her Sport Utility Vehicle crashed into the rear of the train as it was barreling down the tracks.

The Motor Vehicle Homicide Unit of Hampden District Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Springfield Police Department are looking into how this could have occurred.

A few candles and rubbish mark the site of the accident.

April 14, 2018

Memorial Drive Train Crossing Fatality in Springfield

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to the Springfield Police Department, at around 2 a.m. Saturday, a Springfield woman was driving down Memorial Drive at the same time that a train was crossing, causing a collision. Although, it was dark at that time, the woman would still have been able to see the train on the tracks. This area of tracks is not blocked off by crossing arms, but does include a visible “Yield” sign. The Springfield Fire Department removed the woman from her Chevy Tahoe, using the “Jaws of Life”. The impact was fatal and she was transported to Bay State Hospital where she was pronounced dead. There were no other occupants or injuries reported. The Hampden County District Attorney’s Office is currently investigating the situation.

January 27, 2017

Man Killed in Commuter Rail Accident

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

According to a recent news article from ABC 7 News, a 31-year-old man was killed in a horrific and confusing accident in which he was pinned between a commuter rail train and the station. The accident happened during the evening rush hour when the victim was on his way home from work.

Authorities have said the victim, who worked as a mechanic nearby the commuter rail station, was waiting for a train, and, as it was approaching the station, he managed to slip off the edge or the platform and get his waist pinned between the train car and the platform. While his injuries ultimately proved fatal, he was conscious and talking to firefighters as they worked to free him from the train. Continue reading

May 13, 2015

Amtrak Train Accident: 6 Dead, 144 Injured, Crews Comb Wreckage

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Another horrific mass transit accident has been reported, this time just outside of Philadelphia, where a passenger train was catapulted off the tracks.

On Tuesday, May 12 around 9 p.m., an Amtrak train carrying 238 passengers and five crew members from Washington D.C. to New York City derailed, careening off the tracks, causing the seven cars to spin, flip and rip apart. The wreck happened on the busy New York-to-Philadelphia corridor.

In the initial aftermath, authorities are reporting at least six people are dead and 144 are known to be injured. Although most of the others are not seriously hurt, authorities have ominously revealed not all passengers are accounted for. That’s why emergency crews have been toiling away to search for anyone who may still be trapped in the gnarled mess of metal wreckage that remains.
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May 3, 2014

Massachusetts Train Accidents A Growing Concern

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

Massachusetts State Police are investigating a fatal train accident that occurred recently in Chester, a rural area about two hours west of Boston in Hampden County. Sparse information was offered by officials regarding the circumstances of the crash, in which a 23-year-old male pedestrian was killed on the tracks, but Boston train accident lawyers know that incidents like this are on the rise.

A recent USA Today analysis of federal rail data revealed that on average, a train accident occurs in the U.S. once every other day – and those figures only involve passenger and commuter trains.

Fatalities on all railroads in 2013 were reported to be around 730, representing an overall increase of 9 percent in a single year – 11 percent in railroad trespassing deaths and 8 percent in accident deaths.
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December 5, 2013

Bus and Train Drivers Face Added Scrutiny Amid Distracted Driving Crashes

by Jeffrey S. Glassman

The media has been reporting lots of bad news about distracted driving incidents lately, including tragic accidents where buses and trains were involved in serious or fatal collisions due to a driver who failed to pay careful attention.

Our injury lawyers in Massachusetts know that this wave of bad news has led to added scrutiny of bus and train drivers, with transit agencies taking new approaches to promote safety in order to reduce the risk to passengers and others on the roads.
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