Young woman loses leg in horror MBTA accident
Boston, MA – Bridgewater State University sophomore Ava Harlow, 20, sustained severe injuries after becoming stuck underneath a Green Line train shortly after getting off at the BU station. The incident, which happened last Friday at around 11.30 p.m., is the latest MBTA accident to raise questions about the T’s safety record. The young woman had her left leg amputated below the knee, broke her right arm, and sustained a skull fracture. According to her family, she will need a prosthetic leg and her recovery will take months.
“As the trolley was pulling out of the station, the victim was knocking on the trolley window in an attempt to garner her friends’ attention. In doing so, the victim took a step in the direction of travel as the trolley, while still knocking on the trolley window and lost her balance falling under the trolley,” an MBTA spokesperson said.
While the Boston transit company seems to place the blame on the victim, the young woman’s father says the accident could have been prevented.
“They have mirrors. They have horns. They’re supposed to toot the horn before they take off,” Andrew Harlow said in a press conference announcing that the family has retained a lawyer.
Can you sue the MBTA?
Around 1.3 million people use MBTA services each day, so accidents are unavoidable. However, as a public transport company, the T has a duty of care towards its train and bus riders.
If you or a loved one were injured while using public transport, you must contact an experienced MBTA accident lawyer.
The biggest problem is timing your claim to meet statutory deadlines. Different rules apply when making a claim against a local, state, or federal agency. You will have to present your claim in writing to the MBTA within 2 years of the accident. The public agency has six months to respond to your claim. Unless their fault accident is strikingly obvious, you can expect the MBTA to deny your allegations.
Your Boston accident lawyers will next file a lawsuit. Keep in mind that, in Massachusetts, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is three years. You must take action sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss the deadline.
Your lawyers will need to review all aspects of the case to determine it was a case of negligence. If the driver was distracted, they can be accused of negligence. However, your attorneys will try to determine if the MBTA itself is in any way responsible for the accident. For instance, if an accident was caused by a faulty door or mechanism, the company can be held accountable as maintenance is its responsibility.
You can seek damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, and the pain and suffering the accident caused you.
Have you been injured in an MBTA accident?
Don’t waste any time and contact a reliable attorney at the Neumann Law Group. Our attorneys have many years of experience in personal injury and wrongful death cases, in all types of car accidents. Through our dedicated representation of car accident victims and their families, we will help you win the damages you are entitled to. To schedule a free initial consultation, call our toll-free number at 800-525-6386.