Railroad Accidents in the U.S.

Railroad accidents which occur in the United States are investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which issues an accident report after the investigation has been completed. For example, in a summary report of a head-on collision of two Union Pacific freight trains, the NTSB determined that the collision occurred due to one of the train's lack of response to signals; this was caused by the engineer's faulty vision. The engineer had not been decertified in a medical examination which should have caught the problem of his deteriorating eiesight. As a result, the trains collided in June of 2012 on a straight track near Goodwell, Oklahoma. Three people were killed, two engineers and a conductor. Because of the crash, diesel fuel tanks were ruptured and ignited, resulting in damage estimated at $14.8 million.

In another U.S. train crash in 2009, two Washington D.C. Metro trains were involved in a collision where a moving train hit a stopped train. Eight passengers and the train operator were killed in the crash, which made it the worst in the history of the Washington Metro line. Another approximately 80 people were injured, several of whom were trapped for hours before being rescued. The accident was caused by signals that did not accurately detect the presence of another train on part of the tracks. The faulty track circuit was reported by the NTSB in its investigation report and the Washington Metro line detailed the changes it made to fix the problem in a press release at the same time.

Personal Injury Firm in Seattle, Washington

Many negligence-based scenarios can lead to a personal injury case, including train accidents, traffic accidents, nursing home abuse, dog attacks, unsafe premises, dangerous or defective consumer products, and more. Those who are injured or who lose a loved one due to the negligence or carelessness of others, whether those others are an individual or a business entity, may have grounds for a legal claim seeking damages.

For injury and wrongful death victims in the greater Seattle area, Ward Smith PLLC is a law firm devoted to helping you achieve a fair and just settlement or court verdict. The firm's legal team has more than 50 combined years of experience in this legal field. Because of their outstanding legal ability and case results, they have earned a 10 out of 10 "Superb" rating from Avvo and have been listed in Washington's Super Lawyers. They have the skills, knowledge, and commitment necessary to aggressively pursue legal action on your behalf for your medical expenses, loss of earnings, pain, suffering, and other damages. Contact the firm to learn more about your potential claim and to find out how best to proceed through the legal system.