Glendale Train Accident / Amtrak Accident Attorney
According to federal officials, thousands of train accidents happen at railroad crossings every year. Each year, more than 700 people are killed in train accidents across the country and thousands more are injured. While train accidents are less common than other types of traffic accidents, they tend to be much more serious when they do occur. Train accidents almost always happen because someone made a critical error at some point along the way.
If you or your loved one has been injured or killed in a train or Amtrak accident in southern California, it is vital that you call a seasoned train accident lawyer as soon as possible to make sure that you get the damages that you are owed. The experienced and effective personal injury lawyers at McReynolds Vardanyan are ready to investigate the circumstances of your train accident, negotiate a favorable settlement, and fight for your rights in court where necessary.
Common Types of Train Accidents
The train accident attorneys at McReynolds Vardanyan handle all manner of train and Amtrak accidents. If you or someone you care about has been injured in a train accident, our dedicated personal injury legal team is here to help. The most common types of train accidents include:
- Train collisions. Train collisions are rare but when they occur, they are almost certain to involve catastrophic injury and fatalities. If two trains collide, something must have gone horribly wrong with the equipment, the track, or at some level of the trains’ operation.
- Derailment is when a train runs off the rail. Derailments can happen due to conductor error, collision with an object, a mechanical failure with the track, broken rails, or defective wheels. If a derailment occurs while the train is moving at a high rate of speed, a catastrophic accident is likely to occur.
- Accidents on the platform. Not all train accidents involve a catastrophic clash between the train and other vehicles or a massive derailment. Premises owners are responsible for ensuring that train station platforms are safe for customers. If a station platform is left in a slippery condition or disrepair, or if there is too much of a gap between the platform and the train door, slip, trip, and fall accidents can occur. Falling onto platform concrete or, even worse, onto the tracks, can lead to serious injury.
- Train car accidents. Like accidents on the platform, slip and falls can happen on the train car as well. Train door accidents are also common when a door fails to operate appropriately and a passenger gets stuck in the door or tripped by a closing door.
- Train-auto accidents. When trains derail, when the train signal on the road fails to deploy properly, or when negligent drivers ignore an oncoming train, a train could collide with another vehicle. Occupants in the vehicle are likely to suffer serious injury as a result, and the train may derail and injure train passengers as well.
- Train-pedestrian accidents. Whether due to human error or deliberate acts, train-pedestrian accidents are more common than many people realize. Train collision with a pedestrian is almost certain to be fatal.
Who is Liable After a Train Accident?
To recover compensation after a train accident, you and your train accident attorney will need to find out who is responsible for the crash. Depending on the nature of the accident, one or more parties may be liable for your injuries:
- If an accident is caused by a malfunctioning or defective part of the train or track, then the company that manufactured that part might be held liable for any resulting harm.
- If an accident resulted from conductor error, poor train, rail, or equipment maintenance, or human error at some other stage of train operation, then the company that operates the railway (such as Amtrak) could be held liable for any injuries or fatalities caused.
- If a driver of an automobile leaves their car on the track or drives onto the track when the train is crossing, the driver might be liable for any injuries caused to train passengers and other parties.
Depending on the circumstances, more than one party may be jointly liable for causing an accident. A savvy train accident attorney can investigate the circumstances of a train wreck and find out who can be held to task for the devastation caused.
Call a Glendale Train Accident Attorney Today for Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in a train accident in Los Angeles or Southern California, we want to hear from you. Call our Glendale office at 818-855-2115 for a free consultation to evaluate your case and make sure that you are prepared to get the recovery you deserve. Our seasoned, talented, and dedicated train accident attorneys are ready to meet you and meet your needs.