Crash Data
NYC Subway Injuries: What the Data Shows
NYC's subway carries 3.4 million riders daily. Platform falls, train strikes, assaults, and escalator injuries produce thousands of claims a year.
Key Finding
NYC's subway carries 3.4 million riders per day across 472 stations. Platform falls, train strikes, escalator injuries, stairway falls, and assaults produce thousands of injury claims against the MTA each year. Claims require a Notice of Claim within 90 days, and the MTA aggressively defends every case.
The New York City subway is the largest rapid transit system in the Western Hemisphere: 472 stations, 248 miles of routes, 6,787 subway cars, and 1.2 billion riders in 2024, recovering toward pre-pandemic levels.
That volume of people moving through aging underground infrastructure produces injuries. In 2023, two hundred and forty-one people were struck by subway trains. Ninety-seven were fatal. The MTA’s 2024 Annual Report on Litigation shows MTA New York City Transit carried 12,832 active personal injury claims and lawsuits as of December 31, 2024.
12,832
Active personal injury claims and lawsuits against MTA New York City Transit as of December 31, 2024. In 2023 alone, two hundred and forty-one people were struck by subway trains. Ninety-seven of those strikes were fatal.
We went through the subway injury records, who is liable for them, and how to protect your claim.
How Subway Injuries Happen
Subway injuries fall into distinct categories, each with different liability theories and evidence requirements.
Platform Falls
The platform edge is the most dangerous location in the subway system. Injuries occur when passengers:
- Fall into the gap between the train and the platform. The gap varies by station and car type, from 2 inches to over 8 inches at curved platforms. Of 472 stations, 432 now have tactile edge warning strips. Hundreds of gap injuries still occur annually.
- Slip on wet platforms. Water intrusion is endemic in the subway system. Leaking ceilings, tracked-in rain, and condensation create slippery surfaces. The MTA has a duty to address known wet conditions, mop regularly, and post warning signs.
- Trip on uneven surfaces. Cracked tiles, raised expansion joints, and deteriorated platform edges create trip hazards. The age of the infrastructure means these conditions are widespread.
- Fall off the platform onto the tracks. A fall onto the tracks is life-threatening, whether from overcrowding, a medical episode, or being pushed. The electrified third rail carries 625 volts DC.
Platform screen doors are standard in many Asian and European metro systems. They barely exist in NYC. As of December 2025, 115 stations have low barrier fences, but these are not full platform doors.
A full platform screen door pilot is planned for three stations (Times Square, Third Avenue, Sutphin Boulevard) at over $100 million. No firm timeline.
For comparison, Seoul saw platform fatalities drop from 37.1 per year to 0.4 per year after installing screen doors. A 98.9% reduction. The Federal Transit Administration’s National Transit Database tracks comparable safety outcomes nationally.
Train Strikes
In 2023, 241 people were struck by subway trains. Ninety-seven of those incidents were fatal. That’s a 30% increase since 2018. Outcomes are almost always catastrophic: death, amputation, or severe traumatic brain injury.
A study of 838 subway strike incidents from 2008 to 2021 breaks down the circumstances:
| Circumstance | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Suicide | 48.8% |
| Accidental | 33.0% |
| Undetermined | 17.1% |
| Pushed (homicide) | 1.1% |
Eighty-four percent of incidents occur on platforms. Accidental falls, medical emergencies, intoxication, and overcrowding all contribute.
When a fall from the platform results in a train strike, the legal question turns on MTA safety measures. Were there platform edge barriers, sufficient lighting, warning markers? Did the train operator have time to stop?
Stairway Falls
Slips, trips, and falls account for 75% of all subway customer accidents. NYC subway stations have thousands of stairways. Many are steep, narrow, and over a century old. Falls on subway stairs produce serious injuries: broken bones, head injuries, spinal injuries.
Common causes:
- Worn or broken treads. Metal nosing strips wear smooth over decades of foot traffic, losing their slip resistance.
- Broken or missing handrails. Particularly dangerous for elderly passengers and those carrying bags or strollers.
- Overcrowding. Rush-hour crowding on narrow stairways creates pushing, jostling, and loss of balance.
- Water and debris. Rain, snow, and tracked-in liquids make stairs slippery. Trash and food waste add to the hazard.
Escalator and Elevator Injuries
The MTA operates 284 escalators and approximately 300 elevators across the subway system. Both have documented maintenance problems.
Escalator injuries include sudden stops that throw riders forward, entrapment of shoes or clothing, handrail failures, and collapses of escalator treads. The MTA’s escalator availability rate draws ongoing criticism. Many escalators sit out of service for extended periods.
Elevator injuries include entrapment, door strike injuries, sudden drops, and injuries from stepping into elevator shafts when doors open without a car present. A rare but documented occurrence in aging equipment.
Door Strike Injuries
Subway car doors close with significant force. The doors are designed to detect obstructions, but detection systems don’t always work. Passengers caught in closing doors can suffer hand, arm, and shoulder injuries. When a closing door catches a bag or clothing and the passenger falls, injuries get worse.
The MTA’s “stand clear of the closing doors” announcement is a well-known part of NYC life. But the legal duty to operate doors safely goes beyond announcements. The door closing mechanism must function properly. The train operator must verify the platform is clear before commanding the doors to close.
Filing a Claim Against the MTA
The MTA is a public benefit corporation. Claims against it follow the same rules as claims against other government entities in New York.
Note
Under General Municipal Law § 50-e , you must file a Notice of Claim with the MTA within 90 days of the injury. This is a strict, non-waivable deadline.
After filing the Notice, the MTA schedules a hearing under General Municipal Law § 50-h where you testify under oath. You then have 1 year and 90 days from the injury date to file the lawsuit itself.
What the Notice Must Include
The Notice of Claim must include your name and address, the nature of the claim, the date, time, and location of the injury, a description of how the injury occurred, and the damages claimed. The Notice is served on the MTA’s legal department.
Late filings are rarely granted: you must show the delay was excusable, the MTA had actual knowledge of the claim, and the delay does not substantially prejudice the MTA’s defense.
MTA Claims Data
The MTA’s annual litigation reporting tracks the injury claims filed against it. As of December 31, 2024, MTA New York City Transit carried 12,832 active personal injury claims and lawsuits. Transit injury cases consistently rank among the highest-volume categories of public-authority litigation in the state.
Defense is relentless. The MTA’s legal department has dedicated staff handling transit injury litigation. Surveillance cameras in stations and on trains are standard, and the MTA routinely uses video evidence to challenge claims.
That cuts both ways. The same cameras the MTA uses for defense can also capture evidence of the dangerous condition that caused the injury.
Notable Subway Injury Verdicts
New York juries have returned substantial verdicts in subway injury cases:
$110.2M
Jury Verdict: MTA Premises Liability
Cyclist paralyzed by a falling railroad tie from an elevated subway structure.
Theory: MTA premises liability; negligent maintenance of elevated infrastructure
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
$90M
Jury Verdict: MTA Track Strike
Man lost a leg and most of an arm after falling onto subway tracks.
Theory: MTA duty of care; platform safety
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
$81.7M
Jury Verdict: MTA Track Strike
Woman lost her arm and leg after fainting onto the tracks.
Theory: MTA duty of care; platform screen door absence
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
$22.75M
Jury Verdict: Platform Hazard
Man lost toes from a chipped platform edge at Parkchester station.
Theory: MTA premises liability; notice of defective platform condition
Reported New York case, not a case this firm handled.
These verdicts reflect both the severity of subway injuries and New York’s lack of a damages cap.
Subway Crime and Assault Injuries
According to NYPD Transit Bureau crime statistics, subway felony assaults rose 53% from 2019 to 2024, climbing from 374 to 573 incidents.
The crime rate stands at 1.65 major crimes per million riders. Half of all violent subway crimes concentrate in just 30 stations. NYPD Transit Bureau staffing has increased in response. Through 2025, numbers are trending down 16% from 2024.
Assaults on subway platforms and in train cars produce personal injury claims. The legal theory depends on the circumstances:
- Claim against the assailant. Criminal prosecution and a civil lawsuit for damages.
- Claim against the MTA for inadequate security. If the station had a known history of assaults and the MTA failed to provide adequate lighting, surveillance, or police presence, the MTA may share liability.
- Claim against the city. If NYPD Transit Bureau staffing was inadequate at a station with documented safety problems.
The threshold for proving inadequate security is high. The MTA isn’t an insurer of passenger safety. But when a pattern of criminal activity at a specific station is documented and the MTA fails to respond, liability can attach.
What to Do After a Subway Injury
- Report the injury immediately. Tell the station agent or train crew. Request that they document the incident. Get a report number.
- Call 911 if needed. The FDNY and EMS respond to subway emergencies. Medical documentation from the scene is critical.
- Photograph everything. The condition of the platform, stairs, escalator, or train car. The specific defect or hazard. Your injuries. The station name and specific location within the station.
- Get witness information. Other passengers who saw what happened. In the subway, people disperse quickly. Get names and phone numbers before they leave.
- File a Notice of Claim within 90 days. This is the most critical deadline. The 90-day clock is not suspended while you “see how the injury develops.” The 90-day clock runs regardless of injury severity.
- Preserve your MetroCard or OMNY data. Your fare payment records can establish that you were a paying passenger at the specific station and time.
The MTA’s surveillance cameras record continuously. Video evidence is typically preserved for 30 to 90 days depending on the station. Your attorney should send a preservation letter to the MTA immediately to prevent the footage from being overwritten.
Only 159 of 472 subway stations (34%) are ADA accessible. The MTA committed to reaching 95% accessibility by 2055 under a 2022 settlement. The lack of elevators forces riders with disabilities into riskier situations. Steep stairs. Platform gaps. Overcrowded stations without adequate infrastructure.
We’ve handled transit injury cases across the NYC subway system for over 37 years. We know how to navigate MTA claims, preserve video evidence, and build cases against the agency that runs the largest subway system in the Western Hemisphere.
Call 212-221-5999 or request a free case review.
Sources
- MTA. (2024). Annual Report and Ridership Data. https://www.mta.info/agency/new-york-city-transit/ridership/2024
- MTA. (2024). 2024 Annual Report on Litigation. https://www.mta.info/document/168296
- NYC Comptroller. (2024). Annual Claims Report, FY 2023-2024. https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/annual-claims-report/
- NYPD. (2024). Transit Bureau Crime Statistics. https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/stats/reports-analysis/transit-bus.page
- Federal Transit Administration. (2024). National Transit Database Safety and Security Reports. https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd
- NY Senate. General Municipal Law § 50-e: Notice of Claim. https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GMU/50-E
Updated June 14, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- Can I sue the MTA for a subway injury?
Yes. The MTA is a public authority, and you can file a personal injury claim against it. However, you must file a Notice of Claim within 90 days of the injury. This is a strict deadline. Miss it and you lose the right to sue, regardless of how serious the injury is. After filing the Notice, you have 1 year and 90 days from the date of the injury to file the lawsuit itself.
- What are the most common subway injuries in NYC?
The most common subway injury claims involve: platform falls (wet or uneven surfaces, gap between train and platform), stairway falls (worn treads, broken handrails, overcrowding), escalator injuries (sudden stops, entrapment, mechanical failures), door strike injuries (closing doors hitting passengers), and injuries from train movement (sudden stops or starts). Assaults on subway platforms and in cars also produce injury claims, particularly when inadequate security is a factor.
- How long do I have to file a subway injury claim?
You must file a Notice of Claim with the MTA within 90 days of the injury. The lawsuit itself must be filed within 1 year and 90 days. These deadlines are shorter than the standard 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases. Courts can grant permission to file a late Notice of Claim, but the standard is difficult to meet.
- What was the worst subway accident in New York City?
The November 1, 1918 Malbone Street wreck in Brooklyn remains the deadliest subway accident in NYC history, killing roughly 93 people when a Brighton Beach Line train derailed at a sharp curve under Empire Boulevard. The motorman that day was a dispatcher pressed into service during a labor strike. More recent incidents, including the 1991 Union Square derailment that killed five and injured more than 200, still produce litigation echoes in modern MTA safety cases. The legal landscape has tightened since then: injured persons must file a Notice of Claim against the MTA within 90 days under GML § 50-e, a deadline courts enforce strictly. Missing that window can bar a claim entirely.
- Is the NYC subway safer than driving?
Comparing subway and driving safety depends on how you measure risk. The MTA carries 3.4 million subway riders on an average weekday, and the MTA's own litigation reporting tracks thousands of transit-related injury claims each year, from platform falls to escalator incidents, train strikes, and assaults. NHTSA data consistently shows motor vehicle travel produces far higher fatality rates per mile than rail transit nationally, but that statistic doesn't capture the full picture of non-fatal subway injuries underground. The legal path forward differs significantly between the two: subway claims against the MTA require a Notice of Claim within 90 days under GML § 50-e, while motor vehicle claims involve no-fault coverage under Insurance Law § 5102 and third-party liability under VTL § 388. Whether your injury happened on a platform or on the street, the specific facts shape the right next step.
- How many subway accidents per year?
NYC's subway moves 3.4 million riders on an average weekday across 472 stations, and that volume produces thousands of reported passenger injuries annually across platform falls, train strikes, escalator malfunctions, and assaults. The MTA's own litigation reporting shows MTA New York City Transit carried 12,832 active personal injury claims and lawsuits as of December 31, 2024, and NYCTA internal safety filings and NYC Open Data reflect hundreds of additional formal injury reports, though many incidents go undocumented or are resolved before a formal claim is filed. The 90-day Notice of Claim deadline under GML § 50-e applies to MTA injury cases, and missing that window can bar recovery, so speaking with an attorney shortly after any subway incident is the practical priority.
Injured in NYC? Talk to a Trial Lawyer.
Free consultation. No fee unless we win.
For journalists, researchers, and re-publishers
Use this insight
Cite this insight
Three formats. Click to copy. Use whichever your style guide accepts.
APA AP style BibTeX
Antin, J. S. (2026, March 24). NYC Subway Injuries: What the Data Shows. AEE Law Insights. https://aeelaw.com/insights/subway-injuries-nyc/
Contact the data desk
AEE Law editorial desk. Press inquiries answered within one business day.
Contact the data desk
If you were injured in New York and need a lawyer, get Jeff's read on your case.
More from AEE Law Insights
Five Years Later, New York's Traffic Deaths Are Still 18% Above 2019
New York recorded 1,101 traffic deaths in 2024, 17.9% more than the 934 recorded in 2019, the state's pre-pandemic low. Deaths peaked at 1,182 in 2022 and have eased since, but they remain well above where they stood before the pandemic. The decade of steady declines that ran through 2019 has not resumed.
New York's Deadliest Roads Aren't in the City. They're Upstate.
From 2019 to 2023, Genesee County recorded 51 traffic deaths against a population near 58,000, a rate of 88 per 100,000 residents over those five years. Manhattan's five-year rate was 11.5. Genesee's was 7.6 times higher. Thirty counties, nearly all of them rural and upstate, were deadlier per person than any New York City borough, even though the city recorded far more crashes overall.
The NYC E-Bike Injury Ledger: Every Crash, Every Person Hurt
New York's e-bike-involved crashes have injured 17,434 people and killed 133 since 2019, pedestrians and delivery riders alike. This ledger comes from a full review of 2.27 million NYPD collision records, counting e-bike crashes through May 2026. In 2025, eight of the city's 23 cyclist deaths happened in e-bike-involved crashes.