Gov. Signs Tommy's Law Bill To Assist NJ Transit Accident Victims

RAMSEY, NJ — Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill into law Friday named after a man who was killed crossing train tracks in the borough in 2016.

"Tommy's Law" designates a person within NJ Transit to provide victims and their families with support and counseling services following an accident. It also requires the state to promptly provide victims and their families with support and counseling following train, light rail, and bus accidents and crashes. That support may include family crisis intervention and professional referrals.

The state is also required to promptly provide victims and their families with information regarding the incident. A victim's belongings must also be given to their loved ones in a timely manner.

It took Ryan's family weeks to receive information from the state about the accident, prompting his uncle, Jamie Ryan, to lobby for something to be done to help victims' families.

"I'm grateful to the governor for passing this legislation," Jamie Ryan said.

The law is named for Thomas Ryan, a former Ramsey resident who died after being hit by a train at the Ramsey Train Station in 2016. He was killed while trying to cross a double-wide train track to reach his train. (See Related: New Jersey Train Strikes and Kills Person In Bergen County)

Jamie Ryan testified before a state Assembly committee in June, asking them to advance the bill, which they did.

"The goal of this bill is to make sure no other family endures this kind of treatment. Ultimately, I feel and know that the state of New Jersey is better than this," Jam Ryan said during his testimony. "I also believe that there would be less litigation against the agency if they were to treat families correctly."

Republican Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi and Assemblyman Gerald Cardinale (District 39) sponsored the legislation.

"As a result of what happened to Tommy, accident victims and their families should now expect to be treated with respect and understanding when trying to obtain details in a reasonable amount of time," Schepisi said in a statement. "Accidents, whether minor or severe, are traumatic. The last time families need is the added aggravation of fighting an agency to get information or personal effects. Tommy's Law will expedite the process."

With reporting by Eric Kiefer, Patch staff

Related: We Fought NJ Transit For Dead Nephew's Belongings, Uncle Says

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Tommy Ryan (Courtesy of Jamie Ryan, used with permission)