Train Accident Attorney in Irvine

There are several different trains in Irvine. For example, Irvine has an Amtrak train station at the Irvine Transportation Center on Barranca Parkway. Amtrak is a train that connects the city of Irvine to various other cities all throughout the state of California. The line runs all the way toward San Luis Obispo.

The other type of train in Irvine is the Metrolink. Irvine station has a Metrolink system that also connects the city to various other cities all around the state of California. Both these train stations have thousands of visitors each year as people use the trains to commute to work, school, or leisure. Although there are several regulations that promote train safety, train accidents are still bound to occur.

What are the different types of train accidents?

• Train collisions: a train could collide with oncoming vehicles, objects on the road, or another train
• Train derailment: this is a very serious accident, and occurs when the train derails, and the train loses control.
• Onboard train accident: these types of accidents are almost never thought of, and includes accidents such as trip and fall accidents, slip and fall accidents, or when passengers are struck by objects in the train

What causes train accidents in Irvine?

• Engineer errors
• Train conductor errors
• Train steward errors
• Defective train parts
• Improper train maintenance
• Conductor negligence, such as speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Poor road conditions
• Poor track conditions
• Fatigued conductor 

Passengers and Train Accidents

If you are a passenger while riding the train, you could get thrown from one side of the train to the other, or loose objects could strike you.

Vehicles and train accidents

Trains that collide with oncoming vehicles could cause substantial and severe injuries for those passengers in the vehicle. For example, those passengers could suffer spinal cord injuries, or even death.

Bystanders and Train Accidents

Bystanders waiting for the train could also get severely injured, or even pass away from collision with the train.

What should I do after a train accident in Orange County?

After an accident, you should seek medical attention immediately. Usually, injuries are felt a couple of days after an incident, but you should go immediately for an evaluation. Make sure that you constantly attend all your medical appointments. Failing to show up for your medical appointments could aggravate your injuries, and could be used against you if you were to file a claim or a lawsuit for the injuries. 

Who can file a lawsuit for a train accident injury? 

Anyone who has been injured in a train accident could file a lawsuit to seek recovery for their injuries. The different types of people that could file a lawsuit include:

• Passengers: passengers on a train have the right to file a lawsuit if they have been injured while riding the train. California places common carrier duties on trains. Trains have a duty to keep their passengers free from any accidents or dangerous conditions.
• Train employees: train employees who have been injured could also file a lawsuit against the crane for any injuries they have suffered.
• Third-party vehicles: passengers and third party vehicles could also file a lawsuit in the event that the train collided with the vehicle.

Who can I file a train accident lawsuit against?

• Railway employees
• Railway maintenance companies
• Pedestrians
• Drivers of other vehicles
• Train conductor
• Train owner
• Equipment operator 

What compensation could I receive for my train accident in Irvine?

The amount of compensation you will receive from your train accident depends on the circumstances of the accident, and the severity of your injuries. But, there are several different types of compensation you may be eligible to receive. This includes

• Non-economic damages: these include emotional distress and mental anguish
• Economic damages:  these include medical costs and lost wages
• Punitive damages:  rarely awarded, and only awarded when there is another malicious party 

What will our Irvine train accident attorneys do for you?

Train accidents could get very tricky, especially when piecing together exactly what happened and who the responsible parties me be. Our attorneys will:

• Explain the next best steps to take for your Irvine train accident lawsuit. We offer complimentary consultations and case evaluations where you could come in and discuss your potential train accident lawsuit with our highly qualified legal staff and team. Our attorneys are also available 24/7 to answer any questions that may come to mind. We are available via phone, through email, through chat, and in person at our Irvine office.
• Once we begin looking into your train accident, we will gather all evidence. Key pieces of evidence that are involved in a train accident include police reports, collision reports, medical records, photos, videos, and eyewitness statements.
• Our highly qualified Irvine attorneys will interview witnesses to determine exactly what happened, and what they saw.
• Train accidents will need site investigations and inspections to determine exactly what caused the accident. Our attorneys have relationships with top-rated accident investigation experts who will assist us when determining liability.
• In the event that your claim does go to trial, our top-rated trial attorneys have several awards and recognitions for our great work representing clients in trial.

When should I file my train accident lawsuit in Irvine?

There is a statute of limitations time limit that determines when you can file your lawsuit. You must file your lawsuit within two years after the train accident. The clock starts ticking the minute the train incident happens. But, if you discovered your injuries later on, you have one year from the date that you discovered your injuries. This could get very tricky, especially when trying to figure out when you could file your lawsuit. Our best advice is to file your lawsuit immediately as soon as possible to make sure that you’ve met all the requirements. To see what the statute of limitations is for your specific train accident case, give our experienced lawyers a call today.

Train accidents and wrongful death claims

Unfortunately, in certain train accidents, death may result from passengers getting killed from the abrupt collision and impact. But, the deceased’s family could file a wrongful death claim. A wrongful death claim is a specific type of lawsuit where the family members could recover medical bills, and lost wages, along with their damages, such as loss of Consortium and loss of income.

When can I file my train accident wrongful death claim?

You must file your wrongful death claim within 2 years from the date of your family member’s death. If you file your claim after the two years have passed, you will lose your right to seek compensation.