Train Accidents

Train accidents are occurrences that most people believe will never happen to them. We all know the dangers of driving or acknowledge the possibility of being involved in a bike or pedestrian accident. But train accidents only happen in the movies, right? Wrong. Every year in the United States there are, on average, more than 10,000 train-related accidents, including train derailments, vehicle collisions, and crashes. In California alone, there are hundreds of these types of accidents every year. When the unthinkable becomes reality, it is important to have a professional on your side.

Train accidents can occur because of any number of human or machine influences. A car could be left or stuck on a railroad track, railroad crossing signals could malfunction or be incorrect, railroad tracks could have a flaw, the train’s machinery could be defective, operators could get distracted – all of these things can lead to crashes or derailments of a locomotive. The immense size and power of a train generally means that when an accident occurs, the damage and injuries can be staggering. From derailments, to shifting equipment, to explosions, the dangers are life-threatening. Injuries often include brain trauma, back and spinal cord injuries, or debilitating damage that requires long-term care – these are expensive and far-reaching results. Another unfortunate result is often the death of a loved one. If this is the case, a California train accident attorney can file a claim on your behalf to hold the liable parties accountable.

California train accident cases can become quite complicated due to the nature of the accidents. As trains are common forms of public transportation, there are often many victims and potential claimants in a train crash, adding to the complexity of the case and the time it takes to investigate it. Additionally, there may be many liable parties, depending on the type of train accident. Liability could lay with the train company, the owner of the railroad track, a manufacturer of a defective part on the train, a motorist, a fellow passenger, the train conductor, or various combinations of these parties. Sharifi Firm, APC, a skilled California train accident law firm, will investigate the claim and determine who you are able to seek compensation from.

What can you do if you have been in a train accident? The train and insurance companies will run an investigation into the accident, but both are obviously biased parties. The best thing you can do is to write down as much as you can remember about the accident. Was there an explosion? Did the train attempt to stop before the accident happened? What was the weather like? Did you hear, see, smell, or feel anything before the accident? Anything can be relevant in a case like this, so the more you can tell your attorney, the better your chances of receiving compensation.

Contact Sharifi Firm, APC today if you have been involved in a train accident or if a train accident has damaged your property. There is no obligation, and no fees until we win you restitution. Call for a free consultation with a leading train accident attorney in California.