Rail systems like Amtrak offer Fresno residents a convenient way to travel around the city and state. Though these modes of transportation are largely considered safe, accidents can happen. When they do, they can cause serious injuries and even fatalities.
At Berg Injury Lawyers, we have years of experience standing up for the rights of injured people in Fresno. We’ve helped victims throughout Northern California since 1981, and our experience and dedication give our clients a distinct advantage in the claims process against at-fault parties and their insurers.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a train accident in Fresno, contact us today for a free consultation.
Types of Train Accidents and How They Happen
Train accidents can occur in many ways, often resulting in serious injuries and fatalities for passengers, pedestrians, and motorists. Understanding how these accidents happen is important in determining liability and seeking compensation.
Common Types of Train Accidents
- Collision With Another Train: When two trains collide, the impact can be catastrophic, leading to derailments, fires, and severe injuries. These accidents often result from miscommunication, signal failures, or operator error.
- Collision With a Vehicle: Railroad crossings can be dangerous when signals fail, crossings are poorly maintained, or drivers attempt to cross in front of an oncoming train.
- Collision With a Pedestrian: Pedestrian train accidents may occur when individuals are on or near the tracks, whether due to poor visibility, lack of signage, or failure to hear an approaching train.
- Train Derailment: A train leaving the tracks can lead to devastating accidents, particularly when traveling at high speeds. Derailments can be caused by track defects, excessive speed, or mechanical failures.
Common Causes of Train Accidents
- Human Error: Accidents often occur when motorists or pedestrians fail to yield to an oncoming train, misjudge its speed, or attempt to beat it across a crossing.
- Operator Fatigue or Distraction: Train conductors must remain alert and focused at all times. Fatigue, distractions, or impairment can lead to mistakes that put lives at risk.
- Communication Failures: Railway operators rely on precise coordination between dispatchers, engineers, and conductors. Miscommunication or system errors can result in serious collisions.
- Violations of Safety Regulations: Trains and railroads are subject to strict federal and state safety regulations. Failure to comply with these rules—whether by train companies, operators, or maintenance crews—can create hazardous conditions.
- Equipment Defects: Malfunctioning tracks, brake failures, faulty signals, and other mechanical defects can make train travel unsafe. Routine inspections and maintenance are essential to preventing these failures.
- Design or Engineering Flaws: Poorly designed crossings, ineffective safety barriers, and inadequate warning systems can increase the risk of train accidents, making it difficult for vehicles and pedestrians to avoid danger.
Determining the cause of a train accident is critical to identifying who is responsible and pursuing maximum compensation for victims. If you or a loved one has been injured in a train accident in Fresno, an experienced attorney can help investigate the crash and hold all of the negligent parties accountable.
The Tragic Impacts of Train Accidents
Train accidents in Fresno often result in devastating injuries due to these vehicles’ sheer size and force while in motion. Unlike other motor vehicle accidents, collisions involving trains typically cause catastrophic harm to victims, including passengers, pedestrians, and motorists.
Common Train Accident Injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries: A sudden impact or violent jolt can cause concussions or severe brain trauma, leading to cognitive and neurological impairments.
- Spinal cord damage: The force of a train accident can damage the spinal cord, resulting in partial or total paralysis.
- Crush injuries: Victims caught in a collision or derailment may suffer crushed limbs, sometimes leading to amputations.
- Internal injuries: The impact of a train accident can cause damage to internal organs, internal bleeding, or other life-threatening conditions.
- Wrongful Death: Tragically, many train accidents result in fatalities, leaving families to cope with an unthinkable loss.
Long-Term Consequences for Survivors
- Cognitive and physical impairment: Brain and spinal injuries often lead to lifelong disabilities that affect mobility, memory, and overall function.
- Ongoing medical treatment: Many train accident victims require surgeries, hospital stays, and continued medical care to manage their injuries.
- Long-term care services: Some survivors need in-home caregivers or assisted living facilities to help with daily activities.
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy: Recovery may involve months or years of physical therapy to regain movement and independence.
- Permanent disability: For many victims, train accidents lead to disabilities that prevent them from returning to work or enjoying their previous quality of life.
Train accident victims and their families might face overwhelming medical bills, lost income, and emotional distress. Seeking legal representation can help secure compensation for these losses and provide the financial support needed to move forward.
Liability Is Complicated in Train Accident Cases
Determining liability in a train accident is far more complicated than in a typical motor vehicle crash. Train operations are subject to federal regulations, industry safety standards, and multiple layers of responsibility among companies and agencies.
The Federal Railroad Administration oversees railway safety, and violations of these regulations can play a key role in proving fault. Because train accidents often involve multiple liable parties, it’s important to work with a lawyer who understands the complexities of railroad litigation.
An experienced train accident attorney will conduct a thorough investigation to determine who is responsible for the crash. This process may involve identifying railroad companies, equipment manufacturers, maintenance contractors, and government entities that failed to uphold their legal duties. A lawyer will also interview witnesses, consult with train accident reconstruction experts, and review compliance records to uncover any violations of federal or state safety regulations.
Train accident victims need strong legal representation to prove negligence and hold the responsible parties accountable. With the right legal team, victims and their families can pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages caused by the accident.
Possible Damages for Train Accident Injuries
Victims of train accidents often suffer severe physical, emotional, and financial hardships. A successful legal claim can help recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses: Covers hospital stays, surgeries, medications, and ongoing medical treatments.
- Rehabilitation costs: Includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other recovery-related treatments.
- Long-term care costs: Provides for in-home care, assisted living, or other necessary long-term support.
- Lost wages and lost future earning capacity: Compensates for missed work and any long-term impact on a victim’s ability to earn income.
- Pain and suffering: Accounts for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Recognizes the impact of injuries on a victim’s ability to participate in hobbies and daily activities.
- Permanent disability: Provides compensation for life-altering injuries that affect mobility, independence, and overall quality of life.
Securing full and fair compensation is essential for victims and their families as they navigate the long road to recovery.
Call Berg Injury Lawyers for Help After a Train Accident
Train accident cases require legal representation from a firm with experience handling complex claims involving multiple parties and strict industry regulations. Berg Injury Lawyers has the knowledge and resources to investigate the cause of a train accident, prove liability, and fight for the compensation victims deserve.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a train accident, contact us today for a free consultation.
