Pre-Settlement Funding: Train Derailment Injury Lawsuit
When someone hears the phrase “train derailment,” they may automatically think of a dramatic scene in a Hollywood movie. Although trains are generally very safe modes of transportation, the fact is, train accidents do happen, and this does include train derailments. These tragic accidents can often be avoided, but sometimes, a negligent decision that one individual makes can endanger everyone on board. Train derailments can result in severe injury and death, and both workers and passengers are at serious risk when someone who is meant to ensure the safety of everyone makes a careless decision.
When passengers are injured in train accidents, they sometimes work with personal injury lawyers to retain monetary compensation to cover medical bills and other expenses. Injured workers often recover damages through workers’ compensation, but when negligence is involved, they may also be able to pursue additional compensation through a lawsuit.
Train derailments and train accidents occur with all types of trains throughout the country, including, but not limited to:
- Regional trains
- Commuter trains
- High-speed trains
- Monorails
- Freight trains
There have been some notable train derailments that have made headlines in the past. An Amtrak train on its way to New York City from Washington, D.C. derailed near Philadelphia in 2015, injuring more than 200 individuals on board and killing eight. The train’s engineer was found negligent in this derailment for operating the train at dangerously high speeds and faced eight counts of involuntary manslaughter and other crimes as a result of the tragedy. This wasn’t the only time that Pennsylvania was the site of a train derailment, with a CSX derailment occurring in 2017 in Bedford County.
New York has seen a significant amount of train accidents and train derailments over the years, too. In fact, it was revealed that in just an eight-month period, there were three train accidents throughout the state. There were many cases of train derailments as well, including a thirteen-car derailment in East Rochester, a toxic chemical spill resulting from another derailment in Rochester, and a two-tanker car derailment in Gang Mills. A freight train also derailed in the city of Kentucky, which resulted in a chemical fire that injured 11 individuals.
The Transportation Research Board presented an outline of guidelines that can help to prevent train derailments from happening. This includes adhering to high standards when it comes to inspections and maintenance. Other causes of train derailments have been revealed to be broken or defective railroad tracks, as well as problems with the train itself, including bearing failure and broken wheels. As such, upgrading track quality and comprehensive track structure inspections can also be a way to prevent train derailments. In some cases of train derailment, conductor error was also the primary cause, and it is imperative that all train conductors have thorough and adequate training.
Whether you were traveling on a train that derailed as a passenger, or you were on board as an employee of the train, you may be working with an attorney to recover damages. There can be many causes of train derailment, but if someone’s negligence was the cause, you may be eligible for monetary compensation through a lawsuit.
Because catastrophic accidents and injury cases of this magnitude can be somewhat complex, the timeline for your particular lawsuit may be uncertain. It can be difficult for your attorney to pinpoint when your case will eventually settle, but in the meantime, USClaims may be able to help if you need money sooner. While you wait for your case to settle, USClaims may be able to provide you with some money through a lawsuit advance. Contact us today to learn more about how pre-settlement funding works and to find out if your case is eligible.
