Ferry Crash Victims Awarded Nearly $1 Million

Victims of the Wall Street ferry that crashed into a New York pier earlier this year have been award nearly $1 million dollars in damages from the injures they received. 

William R. Bennett III, one of the attorneys representing SeaStreak the ferry operator, said in an interview Wednesday that the company had settled 40-45 claims outside of court and that SeaStreak has been willing to listen to any claims from victims coming forth. Four additional settlements were filed this week against SeaStreak for injures ranging from knee trauma to shoulder cartilage damage with claimants asking for damages between $ 20,000- 80,000.

The SeaStreak operated ferry hit a concrete slip January 9th at New York City’s pier 11 while attempting to dock. The commuter vessel, carrying 326 passengers left from Atlantic Highlands in New Jersey, was bound for the Wall Street district of lower Manhattan. 85 people were injured and two people were listed in critical condition after the collision. People aboard recounted how many people were moving around because the ferry was about to dock. As a result, victims were thrown down stairs by the impact; others were thrown against doors causing the glass to shatter. Also, at the time, there were reports of people flying between 4-6 feet through the ferry's aisles. 

After the incident the National Transportation Safety Board conducted a thorough investigation to make sure the vessel was functioning properly at the time of the crash, and the army corp of engineers conducted a bottom survey to determine if there were any obstacles that may have interfered with the pilot’s ability to control the vessel. 

SeaStreak operates five vessels that travel between Manhattan and New Jersey. The Barker and Tregurtha Families own Seastreak and its sister companies. James R. Barker acts as the Chairman of Seastreak.