One of the first lawsuits has been filed by a passenger injured in the New Jersey train crash last month, with ‘scores’ more likely to follow.
Sheldon Kest, 66, of Tenafly lost part of a finger and suffered cuts to his head when a NJ commuter train slammed into the barrier at Hoboken station on September 29.
One passenger on the platform died and more than 100 were injured.
"I just assumed that NJ Transit was keeping safety in the forefront — something like that could never happen on NJ Transit," Kest said at a press conference.
His attorney Andrew Duffy said he expects ‘scores’ of claims to be filed because of the crash.
The train approached the station traveling at twice the permitted speed limit.
The train engineer, Thomas Gallagher, told investigators he had no recollection of the crash.
Kest’s lawyers also criticized NJ Transit for not fitting anti-speeding technology on the train.
"It is inconceivable that in 2016, train travel is getting more dangerous, not less dangerous," Duffy said.
Congress set a 2018 deadline for all rail operators to install the Positive Train Control system.
