Train Accident Lawyers

Train Wreck Injury Attorneys Serving Victims in Los Angeles, San Diego and Dana Point, CA

We provide experienced, aggressive legal representation for train accident victims and their families. If you have been seriously injured or a loved one has been killed in a train accident, we want to help you win rightful compensation.

Each year, thousands of people are injured and killed in train accidents. This includes not only the major derailments that you see on the news, but many, many other accidents that do not make the nightly headlines. However, these other accidents are often just as serious for the victims, regularly resulting in life-changing – and, in many cases, fatal – injuries.

At Neale & Fhima, we represent train accident victims in Dana Point and throughout Southern California. These cases can be extremely complicated, and the railroads and their insurance companies do everything in their power to avoid paying victims just compensation. To protect your rights, you need experienced representation. With over 40 years of combined litigation experience, including previous experience working for the Santa Fe Railway Company, our attorneys have the knowledge, resources, and commitment needed to help you win the compensation that you deserve.

Experienced Legal Representation for Train Accident Victims

While some train accidents are major catastrophes, not all serious accidents involve bridge collapses and multi-car derailments. At Neale & Fhima, we handle cases involving all types of train-related injuries, including those that may require a catastrophic injury lawyer, including the following:

Derailments

Train accidents involving derailments are some of the most dangerous types of accidents for passengers and railroad employees onboard. Derailments can result from a number of different factors, many of which involve negligence on the part of the train engineer or the railroad company. Common causes of train derailments include:

• Debris and other obstacles on the tracks
• Failure to follow proper safety protocols
• Overloaded trains
• Speeding
• Train and track defects, and maintenance issues

Multi-Train Collisions

Multi-train collisions obviously present extreme dangers, as well. Passengers and employees on both trains, and even bystanders, can all be at-risk for serious, potentially life-threatening injuries. If you or a loved one has been affected by such an incident, consulting with an accident lawyer can provide guidance on your rights and potential compensation.

Non-Collision Train Injuries

Not all train accidents involve collisions. In many cases, passengers can suffer serious injuries (including brain and spinal cord injuries) from falling luggage, sudden stops, losing their balance while walking in the aisle, and other causes while onboard a train.

Pedestrian and Bystander Accidents

Pedestrians walking or jogging near railroad tracks and bystanders waiting on station platforms can suffer catastrophic injuries from being hit by moving trains or falling onto the tracks. In such unfortunate situations, seeking the assistance of an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer is crucial to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Railroad Crossing Accidents

Collisions between trains and vehicles at railroad crossings are alarmingly common, and also regularly cause life-changing and life-threatening injuries. The forces involved in a collision with a moving train are almost unimaginable (and far surpass those involved in an ordinary car accident), and the consequences are usually equally devastating. If you or someone you know has been involved in such an accident, consulting with a car accident lawyer can provide guidance on the next steps. Railroad crossing accidents are commonly the result of:

• Defective railroad crossing signals and gates
• Speeding trains
• Trains failing to use their horns or lights when approaching a crossing

Release of Toxic or Hazardous Materials

Release of toxic or hazardous materials can present an enormous risk in the event of a train accident. Exposure to fumes, direct skin contact, and burns are all very real dangers in accidents involving toxic spills.

Are You Entitled to Compensation for Your Train Accident Injuries?

While railroad employees may be protected under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), passengers and other train accident victims must generally be able to prove negligence in order to pursue a successful claim for financial compensation. This is the same as any other type of personal injury claim. Common forms of negligence in train accident cases include:

• Distracted train operation
• Falling asleep while operating a train
• Operating a train under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Hiring inexperienced or unsafe train operators
• Failing to adequately maintain trains, tracks, and crossings
• Negligent train traffic control
• Exceeding a train’s passenger or cargo capacity

In fact, one of the deadliest train accidents in U.S. history was the result of operator negligence, and it happened right here in Southern California. On September 12, 2008, a commuter train collided head-on with a freight train northwest of downtown Los Angeles. After an exhaustive investigation, it was determined that the accident – which caused 25 fatalities – was the result of the commuter train’s engineer texting behind the controls.

Contact Neale & Fhima for a Free Train Accident Consultation

If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed in a train accident in Southern California, we encourage you to contact us for a free, confidential consultation. To learn about your rights and find out if you may be entitled to significant financial compensation, complete our consultation request form or call (888) 407-2955 today.