Learning How To Recover

Handling Wrongful Death Cases After Train Accidents

14 July 2020 by Susie Torres

Unfortunately, train accidents are all too common. Many accidents lead to serious injuries and in some cases, death. Afterward, devastated family members have to pick up the pieces. Can you pursue a wrongful death case if somebody you love died in a train accident? If somebody was negligent, you can pursue a case.

The Causes of Train Accidents

Several causes of train accidents exist. Some are related to human errors whereas others could be related to product defects and other issues. These are just a few examples of the causes of train accidents:

• A train employee was distracted or drowsy
• A driver was distracted or reckless
• An employee failed to align switches to change tracks
• Miscommunication between employees
• Poor training of employees
• Malfunctioning signals, tracks, and switches
• Train-related mechanical issues
• One party was speeding or braking irresponsibly

As you can see, each cause is related to negligence or wrong-doing. This can establish the foundation of a wrongful death case.

Who Is Responsible for a Train Accident?

If your loved one died in a train accident, you may wonder who is responsible. In fact, multiple parties could be responsible if they acted out of negligence. In some states, multiple people may be deemed "at fault" for a personal injury or wrongful death.

A railroad company is supposed to have strict standards. Employees who maintain and work on the tracks are held to high standards, which means that they should be held responsible when something goes wrong. Manufacturers may also be held responsible when a train part fails to do its job or contributes to an accident. Sometimes a driver is responsible for the accident. The driver of a vehicle may have parked on train tracks or otherwise interfered with the train, for instance.

How to Pursue a Wrongful Death Case

After a train accident, it is important to pursue a wrongful death case as soon as you can. A wrongful death case allows you to recoup the costs you spent on medical bills, the funeral, and other related expenses. In some cases, you can also recover the costs of your emotional pain and suffering or loss of support, especially if the one you lost was your household's breadwinner.

Do you think you have a strong case? It is important that you talk to a wrongful death attorney. An attorney will help you establish a strong case and determine its worth. Set up a consultation today to learn more.

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