A class-action suit, jointly representing all the victims, would be a cheaper and easier route in getting Prasarana to be held responsible for the incident, lawyer Alliff Benjamin Suhaimi said at an online forum today.

Recently the family of a man severely injured in the LRT crash had sought RM1.8 million in damages from Prasarana. The company said that it was covering the man’s medical expenses, while transport minister Wee Ka Siong also said the government would not avoid any suit, but would leave it to Prasarana to respond.

Alliff said the findings of a transport ministry investigation, that the accident was caused by human error, could be used to show that the LRT operator had breached its duty of care to ensure a safe journey to passengers.

He said a class action would still allow each victim to be compensated differently based on injuries sustained.

“It may cost less for the victims to go through a class action as a single law firm will be engaged to handle the claim,” he said at a webinar on liability of public transport entities hosted by CLJ.

On May 24, two trains crashed into each other near the KLCC station. The transport minister said non-compliance of SOPs was among possible causes of the crash.

The collision left 47 people seriously injured among the 213 passengers. On May 31, the family of passenger Wee Chee Fong, 52, one of those seriously injured, sent a letter of demand to Prasarana, seeking RM1.8 million in damages.