The recent heartbreak of the NJ Transit crash in Hoboken, which was both devastating to a large area of property as well as tragically fatal, has brought with it a cry for greater accountability within NJ Transit authority itself. It seems that the agency has been battling a number of internal issues that have possibly contributed to the rash of technical problems it’s experienced leading up to the Hoboken crash.
It is difficult to talk about any of the accidents that have plagued NJ Transit, because almost all the avenues for discussing it seem to get political sooner or later, as conversations about public agencies tend to do.
On one hand, there are those who claim that incidents such as the bus crashes from both September and August, one of which also claimed lives, were the result of operator error, not dependent on mechanical failure. While this does not diminish tragic nature of the losses suffered, it suggests that these events were not due to failures on the part of the agency. As far that train crash is concerned, we are still a long way off from having answers to what may have contributed to the accident.
On the other hand, there are those who claim that the agency is woefully underfunded, fighting a fiscal battle that cannot be won in the current political climate. This is always frustrating to hear, and does nothing to soothe the hurt of those who have been injured or lost loved ones in the recent accidents.
Unfortunately, there seem to be no simple, satisfying answers to those who are asking why they have had to lose so much. But, all of those who have been hurt and felt loss deserve to be given someone or something to hold accountable, and deserve to compensated fairly for the suffering and loss of life that has been forced on them. If you have experienced loss or injury because of a tragic accident, the guidance of an experienced personal injury lawyer can help ensure that your rights remain protected while you pursue justice.
Source: USA Today, “Hoboken crash renews focus on NJ Transit’s issues,” Christopher Maag, Oct. 04, 2016