If you or someone you love was injured or killed in a rail transit or train accident in California, you deserve justice and financial compensation for your losses.

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Public trains, light rails, trollies, and other rail-based systems provide safe, reliable, and affordable transportation options for hundreds of thousands of Californians every year. However, as with any other form of motorized transport, railway accidents pose a significant risk for catastrophic injury or death for victims.

The train accident lawyers of GJEL understand these risks. We fight tirelessly to help injury victims recover compensation for their injuries and other damages.

California Transit & Train Accident Risks

California offers a wide array of accessible, affordable public transportation options, many of which are rail-based. Although light rail trains, trolleys, trams, and other rail-based transportation systems are some of the safest modes of transportation, accidents do happen. When accidents occur, victims often sustain serious injuries with the potential for permanent damage and disability.

Traditional trains also pose a range of injury accident threats. The Federal Railroad Association reported more than 450 California train injury accidents in the first three quarters of 2020 alone, 134 of which led to fatalities. Almost 200 people died due to train accidents in California in 2019.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that train-related fatalities have been on the increase for the past several years. A variety of railways and transit providers have been involved, including the following:

Amtrak,
Caltrain,
MUNI Metro,
Altamont Commuter Express (ACE),
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), and
Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART).

To better understand the risks posed by train and rail transit accidents, it is important to consider the most common causes of California train injuries.

Common Causes of California Train Accidents

As the San Francisco Chronicle reported, victims sustain catastrophic injuries as a result of being struck by trains, either as pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcycle riders, or motorists. This can occur if train crossings are not properly marked or if adequate alert systems are not in place at railroad crossings.

Other rail-related incidents that could lead to serious or catastrophic injuries include the following:

Derailments,
Train collisions,
Slips and falls,
Hazardous materials spills, and
Criminal attacks.

In some cases, rail carriers fail to provide adequate security, safety equipment, or lighting. Carriers may neglect maintenance of tracks and equipment, leading to derailments and other types of accidents. No matter how you sustained your train injury, you could have the legal right to pursue compensation if your accident occurred due to the actions of another party.

Do You Need a California Train Accident Lawyer to Handle Your Case?

You are not legally obligated to have representation by an attorney to pursue a claim for train accident injuries. Nevertheless, having an experienced lawyer and legal team on your side can be of significant benefit.

Although injuries sustained in a train or rail transit accident fall under the general category of personal injury law, these accidents have few similarities to car crashes or slip and fall accidents.

Train accidents are uncommon enough that few California accident lawyers have any direct experience with this type of case. If you or a loved one sustained injuries in an accident of this nature, you need help from a personal injury attorney who has direct experience handling train injury cases through the insurance claims process as well as in the courtroom setting.

An experienced train accident litigator will understand how to document your claim and build the most persuasive case possible. Taking this type of case to court can be challenging because potential jurors may have little or no knowledge about the subject—whereas most people have some degree of familiarity with car accidents. This places additional pressure on your attorney to make your case in a clear and concise manner that jurors can easily grasp.

The right attorney for you will have a vast network of resources to assist in investigating your claim. This might include a team of investigators, subject matter experts, accident reconstruction professionals, and others who can offer valuable opinions or testimony on your behalf.

How Our GJEL Train Accident Lawyers Can Help You

No matter what the circumstances of your train injury accident might have been, talk to us to get the answers you need right now. Your initial consultation is free, and we never collect legal fees until we recover compensation for your damages. We handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. We help protect your legal rights as we fight to get the justice you deserve.

For almost a half-century, the GJEL team has fought to help injury accident victims. We bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to your case. We are committed to doing what it takes to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your physical, emotional, and financial damages. This could include compensation for your medical care and treatment, lost wages and benefits, emotional trauma, pain and suffering, disability, and disfigurement. We specialize in helping victims of rail accidents that involve surgery, trauma activation, or having to be airlifted or hospitalized.

If you lost a loved one in a train accident, we can also assist you with a wrongful death claim. Our compassionate attorneys can help you pursue compensation for the victim’s funeral costs, your economic losses, pain and suffering, and more. Although a settlement won’t bring your loved one back, it will provide a clear message to the at-fault party and help provide a more stable economic future for you and your family.

Our past settlements and awards include more than $950 million to date for our clients. Despite having earned multiple awards and accolades, however, we never rest in our quest to get results for you. Our team of experienced litigators never hesitates to take on the biggest railroads and transportation agencies—or their insurance companies. We will always attempt to negotiate a fair settlement for you, getting you the compensation you deserve without having to go to court. However, we won’t hesitate to file a lawsuit and fight for you in court whenever it may be appropriate.

Don’t Risk Any Delay. Contact a California Train Accident Attorney Today

The sooner you can talk to an attorney after a train accident, the better. The sooner we can get started on investigating your injury accident, the better our chances of obtaining the evidence and testimony we need to build a persuasive case.

The California statute of limitations allows you two years from the date of your accident to file a lawsuit if the at-fault party is not a government entity. If your train accident involved any government agency, you might have only six months to file a lawsuit. If you don’t take legal action within that time, you could lose your legal right to recover compensation.

The insurance company or attorneys for the railway may contact you, asking you to provide a statement or discuss a potential settlement. Before you provide a statement or engage in any settlement discussion, take advantage of our free consultation and case evaluation.

One of our experienced California accident attorneys can come to your location, or we can set up a distanced video or phone conference to ensure your safety and convenience. Call 855-508-9565 or contact us online now to learn more about how a GJEL California train accident lawyer can help you today.