We posted recently regarding a Staten Island Ferry accident that led to dozens of injuries.  At the time and as is typical in the aftermath of these types of accidents, several levels of government got involved with the investigation in order to determine a cause for the accident.  The investigation was led by the National Transportation Safety Board, or the NTSB, and it recently concluded the investigation regarding this incident.  It concluded that a defective part was to blame for a collision with the dock.

The specific part that was defective involved the intricate propulsion system that was not responding properly to commands from the wheelhouse.  As a result, the Andrew J. Barberi slammed into the dock injuring dozens of people on May 8 of this year.  The conclusion was drawn when the parts in question were replaced and the subsequent tests revealed that the issue was no longer a danger.  However, it should be noted that the government has not yet issued what it considers a 'final' report on the cause of the crash, even though it seems clear that the problem has been identified.

New York Personal Injury Lawyers

Assuming that the defective part was responsible for the injuries caused in the accident, it could give rise to New York personal injury lawsuits that are brought by those who were harmed in the Staten Island ferry crash.  However, there would be questions that need to be answered before such a lawsuit was filed.  For instance, potential plaintiffs would need to know whether or not the defective part should have been discovered by those responsible for the ferry or whether the part manufacturer was responsible for the placement of a defective part into the market stream.  Of course, both parties could be liable depending on the facts.

Regardless, this type of analysis should be done with the help of experienced New York personal injury lawyers.  If you have been harmed in this or any other accident, seek the help of attorneys who have been getting to the bottom of complicated scenarios for almost 40 years.  Contact Fitzgerald & Fitzgerald today to schedule a free initial consultation.