Contact a California train accident lawyer at Bisnar Chase who has been handling catastrophic and serious injury cases for over 46 years. Train wrecks are dangerous, and in most cases, people are left with severe injuries or are killed.
At the personal injury law firm of Bisnar Chase, our team of legal experts has the experience, knowledge, and skill required to effectively pursue all types of serious injury cases, including injuries or deaths resulting from Metrolink crashes in California.
We will comprehensively investigate every aspect of your claim to assist you in recovering the highest monetary compensation for your injuries or losses.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured due to a train collision or MetroLink accident in California, please contact our law offices at 1-800-561-4887 or request a free consultation.
California Train Accident Attorney
How Much is a Train Accident Injury Claim Worth?
The amount of financial compensation you receive will depend on the severity of your injuries. There may be minor compensation if the train accident resulted in minor injuries requiring very little treatment.
If the train accident resulted in significant injuries or even a wrongful death claim, then that could result in a 7-8 figure settlement or verdict.
An experienced California train accident lawyer can advise and determine your compensation value. Call 800-561-4887 to talk to our legal team today.
California Train Accident Statistics
According to the 2021 California State Rail Plan published by Caltrans in the five-year period from 2014 to 2018:
- There were a total of 462 accidents on passenger rail lines in California.
- This included 316 accidents on Amtrak lines and 146 accidents on other passenger rail systems like Caltrain, Metrolink, etc.
- Of the 462 total accidents, there were 124 fatalities and 246 injuries.
- The majority (81%) were “highway-rail accidents” involving a collision with a vehicle or pedestrian at a crossing.
- Other accident types included derailments, collisions with objects on tracks, etc.
The rail plan noted that California continually invests in safety improvements like upgraded crossing signals, fencing, public education campaigns, and positive train control technology to reduce accidents.
However, some risk remains with rail lines operating near roads and communities across the state.
There are over 600 railroads and hundreds of thousands of miles of track traversing the country, but unfortunately, the increase in train travel has also led to increased accidents.
National statistics show that every two hours, a train accident involves property damage, injury, and even death.
Other important facts to note about California railroad accidents include:
- Every 90 minutes, there is a train collision or derailment.
- A train carrying hazardous material goes off the tracks approximately every two weeks in the United States.
- Railroads are essentially self-regulated and come under the federal government’s close scrutiny.
- Rail companies continue to rely on technology developed over 70 years ago, and very little effort has been made to update safety measures.
- Local jurisdictions often have no control over train travel in their area, resulting in delays in a regional emergency response to catastrophic situations in the community. The fire trucks will have to wait while a transcontinental freight train passes!
- More than 50% of all railroad accidents occur at unprotected crossings, and according to the Federal Railroad Administration, over 80% of railroad crossings don’t have adequate warning devices.
- Statistics may show that although vehicle collisions have decreased in the last few years, pedestrian collisions have become an alarming problem. Rail companies have failed to educate the public, improve warning systems, and enforce regulations.
Contact a seasoned California bus accident lawyer at Bisnar Chase for a comprehensive free case evaluation if you’ve been injured. Call 800-561-4887 today.
What to Do After You Have Been in a California Train Accident
After a train accident, many people are frantic and find themselves wanting to return to a safe place quickly. Once off the train, injury victims of train wrecks can find themselves with broken bones, head injuries, or even deep lacerations.
This can be a traumatic experience, but there are measures you can take to ease the devastating aftermath of a train collision.
Seek medical attention immediately
If there is an ambulance on site, then use this as an opportunity to receive treatment for any injuries temporarily. Even if you feel well and do not see any signs of physical injuries, you still are advised to see a doctor.
Specific symptoms of conditions such as traumatic brain injury or broken bones may only be seen through X-rays and healed with prescription medication.
File a police report
When authorities arrive at the accident scene, and you are safe, approach an officer to give a statement. Gather whatever information you think would be helpful to the police; for example, if you were not a passenger and saw the crash happen from a car or as a pedestrian, you can potentially claim that it was a head-on collision or a sudden explosion.
If you choose to file a police report later, you can do so at your local police department.
Contact a California train accident lawyer
The California railroad lawyers of Bisnar Chase have been representing accident victims since 1978. We have helped countless people and families win the compensation they need to recover from their injuries.
Our personal injury attorneys have sustained a 99% success rate at winning cases and have won almost a billion dollars for our clients. Call the law offices of Bisnar Chase today at 1-800-561-4887 for a free case analysis.
Injuries that You Can Be Compensated For After a Train Crash
Train accidents can be devastating. Due to their weight and size, trains do not have the capability to stop immediately if there is a car or person on the tracks.
Trains can also experience head-on collisions with each other if the tracks are derailed or properly maintained. Victims of train accidents can experience an array of serious injuries, and many families may lose a loved one from the incident.
For those who survive the accident, common injuries may include:
Head trauma:
A sudden force on the head can cause extensive damage to the skull. Due to its soft, gelatin-like texture, the brain is one of the most vulnerable organs of the body. It is also important because it controls a person’s sensory system, emotions, and thought processes.
If even slightly disturbed, the effects can be irreversible. Common traumatic brain injuries include skull fractures, hematomas, and concussions. An injury victim must seek medical treatment and a medical evaluation.
Exams that may be involved in analyzing the trauma can include blood tests, CAT scans, or MRIs. These hospital services can be costly, and the following treatment can be even more expensive.
Speak to a train accident lawyer in California to learn how much compensation you can win for your injury case.
Broken bones:
The types of bones that are broken are dependent on a series of factors, such as the part of the train the passenger was on, whether the passenger was sitting or standing during the accident, or whether the victim was a small child or elderly person.
Bones that can be easily fractured during a train collision can be bones in the legs, pelvis, arms, wrist, and clavicle. The clavicle is one of the most sensitive bones of the body, and although it may seem insignificant because of its size, it holds an important role.
If the clavicle is fractured, then this can not only be extremely painful, but a person can lose mobility in their arm as well. At times, the pieces of the collarbone can move far out of place, making it very difficult to treat, and the victim may need surgery. The surgery can leave a person in the hospital for months and can lead to a person taking a large amount of time out of work.
Spinal cord injury:
The spinal cord is separated into four areas. These areas include the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral vertebrae. The seriousness of a spinal cord injury depends on what section of the spine was harmed.
Back injuries that take place in the upper area of the spine (cervical vertebrae) can lead a person to be completely paralyzed, but if the injury takes place in the middle or lower part of the spine (thoracic and lumbar regions), a person will potentially still have mobility and control in parts of their body.
Victims who are paralyzed may have to change their lives completely. Equipment such as wheelchairs, voice-activated computers, or equipment for driving a car may be necessary for its function.
To discuss your compensation, contact a California train accident attorney at Bisnar Chase for a free consultation and to determine a path to financial compensation. Call 800-561-4887.
Causes of California Train Wrecks
It is the responsibility of a train engineer, train manufacturer or train company to make sure that a train is safe to ride for passengers. If they fail to do so, this can result in many riders experiencing severe injuries and can also result in numerous fatalities.
Common causes of train wrecks can include:
- Train-on-train collisions
- Excessive speed
- Track defects
- Human error
- Signal failures
- Mechanical issues
- Obstruction on tracks
- Poor weather conditions
- Train on car accidents
- Sabotage to railways
- Derailments poorly maintained tracks
- Noncompliance of safety standards
- Inadequate security and other negligence issues
5 Types of Compensation You Can Receive
Train accident cases are classified as civil lawsuits, which means that one or more people can hold a negligent entity accountable for their wrongdoings. The types of claims that are usually filed for a train collision are personal injury claims or wrongful death claims.
At times, employees who are working on the railroad can also experience physical harm. If the injured employee is not compensated for their injuries, the train company may face being sued.
From your personal injury lawsuit, you can potentially receive compensation for:
Medical bills: Victims of train accidents may suffer from many painful injuries. Injuries from the accident may also be permanent. For example, if the crash victim has become paralyzed from the incident, they would need medical services such as round-the-clock care, physical therapy, and medical equipment.
Lost wages: People who are recovering from a train accident sometimes need to take a substantial amount of time to heal. At times, though, people who are left permanently disabled can no longer provide for themselves financially. When you hire a California train accident lawyer, you may be able to collect winnings for lost and future income you will experience.
Pain and suffering: Measuring how much a person will collect for pain and suffering can be complex. Pain and suffering refers to the emotional and psychological damage that a person experiences after an accident. How you can prove pain and suffering can be by presenting your railroad lawyer with documentation that states that a counselor or psychologist saw you.
Property damage: Houses and cars near the metro-link accident scene can possibly receive compensation. If oil leaks into the ground have had an impact on the victims, they can also file a claim. The oil a train operates on can be poisonous if residents are exposed long enough.
Loss of consortium: When people are killed or severely injured due to someone else’s negligence, family members of the injured or deceased can claim loss of consortium. Loss of consortium means that because of the accident, the victim can not provide affection or companionship or are unable to have sexual relations.
Who is Liable for Your Injuries in a Train Accident?
Trains are considered common carriers. Common carriers are classified as any entity that transfers people or goods from one place to another. Civil Code 2168 defines a common carrier as:
“Everyone who offers to the public to carry persons, property, or messages, excepting only telegraphic messages, is a common carrier of whatever he thus offers to carry.“
Common carriers such as trains hold what is known as the “duty of care” which means they have the responsibility to keep passengers safe while they commute. Train companies such as Amtrak and Metrolink can be sued if a group of people are injured or killed as a result of their negligence.
If you or someone in your family has been injured due to the negligence of a rail transportation company, you may be able to file a claim to recover your damages. When a railroad or train accident does occur, there are laws that govern whether or not the carrier is liable.
There are many factors that determine if the railroad company was at fault and could have prevented the accident and resulting injuries by exercising the proper care and maintenance. Also, if the carrier is found liable, there are even more factors to consider as to what percentage of liability they will have to assume.
California MetroLink Accidents
In the state of California, railroads are no strangers to tragedies. Major companies such as Metrolink and Amtrak have experienced one of the deadliest train wrecks in the nation, one of them being the Chatsworth train collision.
Exactly 25 people were killed and 135 passengers were injured on a Metrolink train in 2008. The Metrolink train crashed into a freight train on a track that they were both sharing.
Later on, investigators noted that the engineer who was operating the Metrolink should have stopped beforehand when a light was signaled for him to do so. The reason the train engineer missed the light signal was due to his texting.
Since the accident, Metrolink has taken steps to better protect its riders. One of the safety measures that Metrolink took was purchasing Rotem cars.
Rotem cars have crush zones that are designed to push the force away from riders in a collision. Thereafter, Metrolink became the first transportation service to introduce a “collision avoidance system.”
Contact our California Train Accident Lawyers
The California Train Accident Lawyers of Bisnar Chase strive to give our crash victims the best client services we can. We understand the needs and stresses that follow an accident, and we want to be here to alleviate them.
Our law group of dedicated legal experts has been helping collision victims win millions in compensation for their injuries for four decades.
If you or someone you know has lost a loved one or you were injured in a California train wreck, contact the law firm of Bisnar Chase. Call 800-561-4887 for a free consultation.
