On June 22, 2009, the Washington, D.C.-area Metro commuter train system suffered a blow when a crash killed nine and inflicted injuries on more than 80 additional passengers. Now, in a move that will likely presage many additional suits, the first personal injury lawsuits have been filed by passengers injured in the crash. Mother and daughter passengers Bernea Bell and Ivey Epps were on board the Red Line train 112 when it slammed into an idle train. The pair claim to have suffered significant injuries in the incident, and their suit lays blame on Metro officials for failing to inspect and regularly maintain the system’s brakes.
Have you or a loved one been injured in a vehicle crash? If so, we can help. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
Showing posts with label Metrolink accident. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Metrolink accident. Show all posts
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
$29.5 Million Settlement Awarded in Chicago Brain Injury Case
On September 17, 2008, Illinois resident Renea Poppel had just settled into her normal morning commute when the train she was on ran off the tracks between Joliet and Chicago, injuring more than 100 passengers and killing two. Poppel sustained severe injuries in the derailment, including a broken pelvis, a broken neck, and severe brain damage.
Even after more than 20 surgeries, Poppel requires the use of a wheelchair and experiences ongoing sensory problems.
An investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board cited human error in the derailment, noting that an engineer did not properly slow the train before attempting to change tracks. The suggested speed for such a maneuver is approximately 10 miles per hour, while black box data indicate that the commuter train was traveling at an estimated 69 miles per hour.
A Cook County jury awarded Poppel $29.5 million in the case, citing her medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, and future damages.
Have you or a family member sustained a traumatic injury? Let an experienced personal injury attorney walk you through your legal options. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
Even after more than 20 surgeries, Poppel requires the use of a wheelchair and experiences ongoing sensory problems.
An investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board cited human error in the derailment, noting that an engineer did not properly slow the train before attempting to change tracks. The suggested speed for such a maneuver is approximately 10 miles per hour, while black box data indicate that the commuter train was traveling at an estimated 69 miles per hour.
A Cook County jury awarded Poppel $29.5 million in the case, citing her medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of normal life, and future damages.
Have you or a family member sustained a traumatic injury? Let an experienced personal injury attorney walk you through your legal options. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Deadly Commuter Train Wreck Claims 25 Lives
On September 12, a Los Angeles commuter train collided head-on with a Union Pacific freight train. The Metrolink train carrying 222 passengers was headed north in the LA suburb of Chatsworth when it struck a freight train staffed by a 3-person crew. The collision is being described as the deadliest train wreck in the United States since a 1993 Amtrak train derailment that killed 47.
By Sunday, 25 deaths had been reported, but officials fear that number could climb if more bodies are recovered, or if any of the 40 critically injured passengers currently being treated in area hospitals take a turn for the worse.
Although the recovery effort is nearing completion, rescuers reported that the overturned position of the trained slowed the process considerably, making it much more difficult than usual to find injured or deceased passengers and to move them to safety. Efforts to recover the train’s data recorders are still underway.
While an official statement on the cause of the collision has not yet been released, Metrolink representatives are claiming that human error played a factor in the collision. In the local LA media, unsubstantiated reports that the Metrolink engineer was engaged in a text messaging exchange in the moments before the crash have emerged.
Whatever the cause of the distraction, the circumstances of the wreck suggest that something had seriously impeded the engineer’s ability to safely operate the train. Three separate warnings that a head-on crash was imminent were reportedly disregarded.
Because human error appears to have been a major contributing factor in the collision, it is likely that a number of wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits will be filed on behalf of injured passengers and surviving family members in the weeks and months to come.
If you or a family member has been affected by the Metrolink tragedy, reach out and connect with our team of compassionate, experienced personal injury attorneys. Contact the California personal attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
By Sunday, 25 deaths had been reported, but officials fear that number could climb if more bodies are recovered, or if any of the 40 critically injured passengers currently being treated in area hospitals take a turn for the worse.
Although the recovery effort is nearing completion, rescuers reported that the overturned position of the trained slowed the process considerably, making it much more difficult than usual to find injured or deceased passengers and to move them to safety. Efforts to recover the train’s data recorders are still underway.
While an official statement on the cause of the collision has not yet been released, Metrolink representatives are claiming that human error played a factor in the collision. In the local LA media, unsubstantiated reports that the Metrolink engineer was engaged in a text messaging exchange in the moments before the crash have emerged.
Whatever the cause of the distraction, the circumstances of the wreck suggest that something had seriously impeded the engineer’s ability to safely operate the train. Three separate warnings that a head-on crash was imminent were reportedly disregarded.
Because human error appears to have been a major contributing factor in the collision, it is likely that a number of wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits will be filed on behalf of injured passengers and surviving family members in the weeks and months to come.
If you or a family member has been affected by the Metrolink tragedy, reach out and connect with our team of compassionate, experienced personal injury attorneys. Contact the California personal attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Metrolink Collides with Freight Train in Chatsworth
On Friday, September 12, 2008, a Metrolink train traveling from Union Station to Moorpark collided with a Union Pacific freight train traveling on the same track just as the Metrolink train was leaving the Chatsworth Station. At least 18 people are dead and more than 135 people have been injured in what has been called one of the worst train accidents in Southern California's history. Officials from Metrolink and Union Pacific are trying to understand why warning systems in place to prevent such collisions failed. The NTSB is investigating.
Have you or a family member been injured in this accident? You need an experienced team of personal injury attorneys to help you determine your next move. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
Have you or a family member been injured in this accident? You need an experienced team of personal injury attorneys to help you determine your next move. Contact the attorneys at The Heller Law Firm for a free consultation, or call us direct at 866-461-5791. You will hear from us either the same day or within 24 hours.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
