Pedestrian Killed After Being Struck by Metrolink in Northridge

With many returning back home, to school, and to work on May 31st, the community witnessed a tragic event. On May 31st, 2022, a Metrolink train struck a pedestrian in the city of Northridge, California. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. Unfortunately, even though there are several barriers and safety measures in place in California, train accidents are still likely to occur. When train accidents occur, they could cause very severe injuries and fatalities. You want to make sure that you have the right attorney on your side if you have sustained severe injuries. You also want to make sure that you have an experienced wrongful death attorney in the unfortunate case that you have lost a loved one in a fatal train pedestrian accident.

The accident occurred between the intersection of West Roscoe Boulevard and Balboa Boulevard in the city of Northridge. The accident occurred around 5:40 a.m. When First Responders arrived at the scene, they declared that the pedestrian was dead immediately after being struck by the train. The train was a Metrolink train that many commuters use to go to and from school and work. There could be hundreds of passengers at any given time on a weekday morning, weekday afternoon, or weekend. Metrolink provides very quick transportation to passengers with affordable rates. But unfortunately, Metrolink accidents are common in the Los Angeles area.

After the pedestrian Metrolink accident, Metrolink announced that they were temporarily stopping the tracks located in the city of Northridge and Van Nuys. Those passengers who had their commute canceled were offered $50 reimbursement to instead find other rideshare opportunities, such as Uber or Lyft. This caused severe traffic, especially those who were going from the valley to downtown Los Angeles.

As of right now, the circumstances as to how the Metrolink pedestrian accident occurred are unknown. Several investigators are now at the scene trying to put together the cause of the accident. There are several reasons how a pedestrian accident may occur. The most common include:

• Defective train track safety rails
• Negligent train driver
• Defective train brakes
• Negligent pedestrian

There are several other reasons as to how a pedestrian accident may occur. For more information on your specific Metrolink train accident claim, contact our attorneys today for a free case evaluation. A trusted attorney who investigates your claim will be able to strengthen your lawsuit.

In California, those who have been involved in a Metrolink accident have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault parties. The first step is to meet with an experienced and qualified attorney who will be able to aggressively represent you against insurance companies and defendants. You should not have to deal with the loss of a loved one or pain from a severe injury if it is caused by another party. You have the right to hold the defendant responsible for the compensation and justice you deserve. Call our attorneys today for a free case evaluation.

The accident occurred at a very busy intersection. Train tracks can be very dangerous to pedestrians and other vehicle drivers. It is very common for train tracks to cross vehicle lanes. Not only will this pose a danger to pedestrians, but also to other drivers, motorcyclists, and bicyclists on the road.

Some say that the pedestrian was found in an area where pedestrians should not have been. This accident is still currently being investigated, and information on the pedestrian’s identity is still not available. There were around 50 people on the Metrolink train at the time of the accident. No one on the Metrolink train was physically hurt, and an alternate way of transportation was scheduled for the 50 passengers.

Since there was a fatality, those investigating must look into it for several hours, even days. This circumstance could be very devastating to the pedestrian’s family members. Those who were in the train at the time the accident happened and witnessed the accident could also suffer emotional distress.

Metrolink Accidents in Los Angeles

Unfortunately, Metro accidents in Los Angeles are common. The last time a Metro accident occurred was in South Los Angeles on April 7th, 2022. This caused major delays in Los Angeles, and firefighters responded only to pronounce that the pedestrian was dead at the scene.

Another accident occurred 2 years ago on March 4th, 2020 in South Los Angeles. As the driver made a left, the Metrolink tried to slow down, but struck the vehicle.  Fortunately, the vehicle driver was able to survive, and only sustained minor injuries. When they investigated the Metrolink accident, they found that only one gate arm was down at the time of the accident. The other gate arm was still raised, that’s why the vehicle driver was still able to make a turn at the light. The vehicle was smashed, and the fact that  the driver was still alive was a miracle. There has now been a stronger push by Metrolink officials for both drivers and pedestrians to be cautious around train tracks, even if they do not see a train coming. Metrolink accidents can be prevented, but unfortunately still occur yearly.

Metrolink Liability

 Who are the liable parties in a Metrolink accident?

• Other vehicles
• Other pedestrians
• Metrolink driver
• Train track manufacturer
• Metrolink brake manufacturer

If liability was found to be on behalf of Metrolink, a lawsuit should be filed against the government entity. It is very important to keep in mind that when filing a lawsuit against a government entity, a plaintiff needs to act fast. A plaintiff does not have several years to file a lawsuit against the government, but instead has a couple months.

 Defective Brakes

If the Metrolink accident was caused by defective brakes, then the plaintiff most likely has a product liability claim against the product manufacturer. A product liability claim is a claim brought against the manufacturer and products retailer for defective products. All the plaintiff has to show was that the product was defective, the plaintiff does not need to prove negligence.

What is a wrongful death claim in fatal train pedestrian accidents?

A wrongful death claim is a claim filed on behalf of the pedestrian’s family against the negligent party. Wrongful death claims are claims filed by family members to receive compensation for the loss of their member, such as funeral expenses and loss of income. Wrongful death is a very specific action, and should only be brought forth by an attorney who has dealt with wrongful death claims for several years. Our attorneys have decades of experience filing wrongful death claims for family members, and we know how difficult it may be to file such a claim. That is why we provide our utmost attention.

Contact Experienced Train Accident Attorneys Today

Contact our train accident attorneys today to see how we can help you with your train accident claim. Our attorneys have received hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients to make sure that they get the compensation they deserve. We are available 24/7, and provide individualized attention to our clients’ needs. Call us today for any questions or concerns you may have. You should not have to suffer because of another party’s negligence. Get in touch with our experienced legal team at Heidari Law today to see how we can help you.

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