Americans throughout the country use subways and trains to commute to and from work everyday. In California, trains have become an economical and convenient way to circumvent congested highways and rush-hour traffic. But every year there are approximately 3,000 train accidents, killing as many as 1,000 people. Trains travel at very high speed and due to their size and weight, have catastrophic consequences when they hit each other, vehicles on the tracks or people crossing the tracks. Because of their size and speed they require long distances to stop and cannot due so for unexpected vehicles or cars on the tracks. While trains are generally safe and effective, accidents do happen. When they do, the Righthand Law Office can help compensate you for your injuries.

Subway and train accidents happen at times due to human error on the part of the train operators. However, accidents can also occur because of flaws or defects on train tracks, on the trains themselves or because of defective crossings. Sometimes, equipment malfunctions in such a way that causes a collision or derailment, and mechanical errors can occur that have catastrophic consequences.

Because train, MUNI, BART and trolley cars generally do not have seatbelts or other safety devices, collisions or other accidents have even a greater potential to incur serious damages and injuries. The 2009 light rail accident between an L Taraval train and a K Ingleside train, for example, resulted in more than 40 injuries many serious and some critical. Fractures, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, and death are all possible in train disasters. Railroad and subway workers can be injured, as well as passengers of the train. For those injured at a crossing, the consequences are often deadly.

Aside from two trains colliding with each other, there are also a few different types of train accidents that can be just as serious. Sometimes, a train track has been vandalized, or debris of some sort is left sitting on train tracks by railroad employees, causing a train derailment.

Crossing accidents are much more common than one might expect, and many railroad crossings still lack adequate lighting and barriers to prevent vehicles from getting hit by trains. The Federal Railroad Administration estimates that more than half of all railroad accidents occur at unprotected crossings. They also believe that over 80% of our nation’s railroad crossings are not equipped with proper warning signals and protective equipment. Often these crossing accidents have components of responsibility that is both railroad and city or state. When proper highway design and signaling is not in place, the city or state may be liable for damages in the unfortunate event of an accident. If a city, county or state is the cause of an accident in California, there is a 6 month claim requirement that must be fulfilled. This means that a formal document meeting all the requirements of the law must be properly served upon the municipality. Failure to act quickly may cost you your right to recover for losses that will no doubt be major.

Just as in other types of vehicular accidents, train accidents can be caused by driver negligence, which includes speeding, distractedness, drug or alcohol use, or fatigue while operating a train. In some cases, drivers can be poorly trained to address emergencies, which might exacerbate an accident that has already occurred.

Train or subway accidents can require their victims to seek extensive medical attention. Train wrecks can also lead to wrongful death. Regardless of your injury, if you have been in a train accident it is essential that you seek medical attention immediately, and that you consult a lawyer. If you were injured because of another person’s negligence, the Righthand Law Office will make sure you get compensated for your losses.