TOP PERSONAL INJURY FIRM IN LOS ANGELES
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Los Angeles Train Accident Lawyer

While train crashes are less common than car crashes, they still happen far more often than most people think. Thousands of train accidents occur each year. And when a train accident happens, it can cause an immense amount of damage. The sheer size and weight of a train increases the likelihood of catastrophic injuries and fatalities in the event of an accident, making this type of accident particularly devastating.

Being injured in a train accident can instantly change your life. Those who are lucky enough to survive being in a train accident are often left dealing with severe pain, immense emotional distress, and an enormous financial burden. But if you were injured in a train accident due to the negligent or harmful actions of another party, you may be able to recover damages through California’s personal injury laws. California train accident victims may be able to recover compensation for their past and future medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and more.

If you or a loved one was injured in a train accident, contact LA Lawyers Group today for a free case evaluation. Our expert train accident lawyers have experience handling accidents involving freight trains, commuter trains, LA Metro rail line cars, and other rail line systems. Our Los Angeles train accident attorneys have an extensive familiarity with personal injury law, wrongful death law, and the railway industry, allowing them to thoroughly investigate train accidents, prepare the strongest possible train accident case, and pursue the maximum recovery for our clients.
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Los Angeles Train Accident Attorney
Types of Train Accident Cases

The experienced team of attorneys at LA Lawyers Group has decades of combined experience successfully pursuing personal injury cases. We can handle a variety of train accident claims, including: 

  • Train Accidents Involving Pedestrians
  • Train Accidents Caused by Mechanical Malfunctions
  • Wrongful Death Train Accident Claims
  • Train Derailments
  • Railroad Crossing Accidents
  • Train Accidents Involving Motor Vehicles
  • Multi-Train Crashes
  • Accidents Caused by Hazardous Cargo Spills
  • Train Platform or Train Station Injuries
  • Accidents Involving Various Types of Trains, Including:
    • Metrolink Trains
    • LA Metro Light Rail Cars
    • LA Metro Heavy Rail Cars
    • Amtrak Trains
    • Cable Cars/Trolleys
    • Freight Trains
    • Caltrain Trains

Note that we can represent all types of train accident victims at our law firm. This includes pedestrians, bystanders, train passengers, railroad employees, motor vehicle drivers, and motor vehicle passengers. 

Common Causes of Train Accidents

Some of the most common causes of train accidents include:

  • Human Error
  • Equipment Malfunction 
  • Unbalanced or Overloaded Cargo
  • Crossing Signal Failure
  • Track Failure 
  • Obstacles on Train Tracks
Who can you sue in a train accident injury case?
Who Can You Sue After Being Injured in a Train Accident?
The circumstances involved in train accidents can be extremely complex. A train accident may have a single cause or it may be the result of a series of interlinking circumstances. Additionally, in California, multiple parties can be held liable for an accident, so it’s important to investigate and evaluate every possible element that may have contributed to an accident. To recover damages, an injury victim generally must prove that a defendant was involved in an accident, that the actions of the defendant make them legally responsible for an accident, that the victim has injuries that were caused by the accident, that the damages being sought are related to the victim’s injuries, and that the defendant was responsible for a certain portion of the accident and therefore also for a certain portion of the victim’s losses.

Every train accident comes with its own unique set of circumstances that must be thoroughly investigated, so who a victim can sue after being injured in a train accident will vary from case to case. Some examples of parties that could potentially be liable for a train accident include:
Railroad Track Owner:
A company or United States government entity that owns or controls a portion of railroad track has a responsibility to keep their tracks safely maintained. If a railroad track owner is negligent in maintaining safe tracks, they may be responsible if a railroad passenger, railroad worker, or passerby is harmed in an accident caused by the unsafe tracks.
Train Owner or Train Operator:
Train companies have a duty to keep their trains, train equipment, and train stations in good repair in order to ensure the safety of their workers and the public. Train companies are also responsible for properly training and supervising their employees in order to ensure that they are doing their jobs safely. If a train owner or operator is negligent in keeping their operations reasonably safe, they may be responsible if an accident occurs due to this negligence.
A Motor Vehicle Driver:
Railroad accidents are not always caused by trains. Sometimes, the negligent or reckless actions of a motor vehicle driver can cause a train collision, making the car or truck driver potentially liable for the accident.
A Manufacturer:
California has strict product safety laws. When a defective product causes an accident, the manufacturer of that product may be held strictly liable for the accident if the product was defective when it left their possession. In a train accident case, a defective product could include a defective train or a defective train part. It may also include defective signal equipment or other defective equipment. If a defective product malfunction causes a train accident, accident victims may be entitled to pursue damages from the defective product’s manufacturer.
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Damages Available in a Los Angeles Train Accident Injury Case
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The damages that are available in a California train accident case will typically be the same as those available in other types of personal injury cases. California injury victims are generally entitled to recover economic and non-economic losses related to their injury. The specific damages available in a train accident case will vary depending on the case, but may include compensation for: 

  • Past and Future Medical Bills
  • Lost Wages
  • Lost Earning Potential
  • Property Damage 
  • Pain and Suffering
  • Emotional Distress
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life

In addition to economic and non-economic damages, injury victims are sometimes awarded punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded by a judge as a punishment when they find that a defendant has acted with “oppression, fraud, or malice.” This type of monetary compensation is awarded on top of other damages. 

If a train accident results in a person’s death, the decedent's family members may be entitled to file a wrongful death suit. The damages available in wrongful death cases are different from those available in personal injury cases. In a personal injury case, damages are given for the losses a victim suffered due to their injury. In a wrongful death case, damages are given for certain losses the deceased victim’s family suffered due to the untimely death of their loved one.   

California law has a vague description of the types of damages a plaintiff could recover in a wrongful death case. The law simply states that “just” damages are available. This can make determining the appropriate damages in a wrongful death case immensely complex, since you must prove that the damages you are attempting to recover are just. A lawyer that has experience handling wrongful death claims can assist you in thoroughly evaluating your situation from an expert perspective in order to determine the damages that may be available to you. 

While the damages that are available in a wrongful death case will vary from case to case, there are some general types of damages that are commonly available. These include: 

  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • The estimated amount of income and benefits the decedent would have earned in the remainder of their lifetime had the accident not occurred
  • Financial support for the household
  • Loss of household services that would have been provided by the decedent (such as cleaning, cooking, yardwork, caring for children, etc.)
  • Loss of intangible support (such as love, affection, moral support, guidance, attention, etc.)
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What Should You Do After Being in a Train Accident?
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Seek Medical Treatment
The first thing you should do after being in a train accident is seek medical treatment. Even if you think your injuries are minor enough to care for at home, you should be examined by a doctor in order to make sure your injuries are not more serious than you assume. Visiting a doctor is also important should you decide to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit in the future, since medical records are important evidence in this type of case.
Do Not Speak to Insurance Companies or Rail Companies
When you submit a claim or file a lawsuit, the defendant and their insurance company will look for reasons to dispute their liability and your damages. To protect your case, refrain from speaking to rail companies and insurance companies until after you have retained a personal injury attorney. Do not give any statements until you have received legal advice from your attorney. Note that it’s also best to refrain from posting on social media until your lawyer recommends otherwise.
Preserve Evidence
Train companies and local authorities may gather evidence after an accident. However, train companies have their own best interests in mind when investigating a train accident scene and government agents can sometimes be less thorough than they should be. Because of this, it’s ideal if an injury victim also takes steps to preserve evidence. As soon as your health permits, write down any circumstances involving the accident that you can remember. Note things such as the weather, any personnel you saw on site, when the train’s brakes were deployed, and where the accident occured. Additionally, try to get photographs of the accident scene and get a record of any witnesses’ contact information. If you are not well enough to take photographs and speak to witnesses, consider asking a trusted loved one if they can do this for you.
Contact a Train Accident Attorney
It’s crucial for train accident victims to seek legal representation quickly after their accident due to the complicated and time sensitive nature of this type of case. A train accident lawyer can help you understand what you should and should not do after your accident and provide you with a thorough explanation of your legal options. A train accident lawyer can also help you gather evidence, know the laws that are relevant to your case, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and file a lawsuit should an insurance company fail to negotiate in good faith. Obtaining legal representation quickly after being in a train accident can help you have the strongest possible case and maximize the damages you receive. It can also help you feel less stressed after your accident. When you know you have an expert advocate on your side, you can spend less time worrying and more time focusing on what’s truly important: your recovery and well-being.
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Get Help From a Southern California Train Accident Lawyer
If you or a family member has been harmed in a train accident in the State of California, reach out to LA Lawyers Group today to receive a free case evaluation. A member of our team can help you understand your legal options and work to protect your best interests. Our train accident attorneys have an expert understanding of how California’s personal injury and wrongful death laws can apply in train accident cases, and they fight tirelessly to recover justice for our clients. Our attorneys have helped our clients recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, emotional distress, pain and suffering, property damage, and more.

Call our law firm today at (213)LAWYERS (529-9377) to receive your free consultation with one of our Los Angeles train accident lawyers.
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L.A. Lawyers

4529 Sherman Oaks Ave
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Phone: (213) LAWYERS
                     529-9377

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         529-9377
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