Lawsuits involving Amtrak are some of the most complicated in the field of personal injury. This is, in large part, due to their enormous size, with many train accidents occurring at more than 100 miles per hour. Similar to commercial trucking accidents, there are usually multiple parties who could be or share in liability. To make matters even more complicated, the injuries victims sustain tend to be serious and require immediate economic relief in order to assist with their massive medical expenses.
Why does Amtrak have such a bad reputation?
If you are hurt in an Amtrak accident caused by negligence, the law makes it possible for you to pursue financial compensation to cover your medical bills, lost earnings, and any ongoing treatments you might require. The professional Virginia Amtrak accident lawyers at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp can assist you in pursuing damages if you were injured in an Amtrak train accident.
Safety Concerns Raised
Amtrak was founded in 1971. As of today, the railway company operates standard interstate passenger trains in 46 out of 50 states and handles high-speed trains along its most active passage, the Northeast Corridor, which runs from Boston to the District of Columbia. Amtrak trains stop at over 500 different destinations over 33 routes that are spread across 21,000 miles.
Amtrak’s shoddy safety record has been the subject of numerous investigations arising from lawsuits against the railway service. Despite having access to seemingly unlimited government funds, the company regularly fails to properly train its engineers and implement robust safety precautions.
For instance, following the 2016 Philadelphia crash that resulted in the deaths of two Amtrak employees, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the accident occurred due to negligent oversight. Amtrak employees at the accident site lacked the equipment needed to maneuver trains safely around track repair work.
The NTSB found a total of 20 safety violations and noted that employees had not been briefed before high-speed trains returned to the track.
This complete and utter disregard for safety precautions has led to repeated deaths and injuries and has been the catalyst for many high-profile lawsuits.
Amtrak Injuries
Considering their storied history of supposed oversights, safety violations, and high-speed train derailments, both Amtrak employees and passengers have sustained severe Amtrak-related injuries. When safety compliance is nowhere to be found, the consequences are going to be devastating.
When you take into account the fact that an eight-car train traveling at 80 miles per hour needs at least a full mile to come to a complete stop, it comes as absolutely no surprise that a lot of fatal collisions have taken place with engineers going more than 100 miles per hour on bends in the track.
Some common Amtrak passenger injuries have involved:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Whiplash and spinal cord injuries
- Broken or fractured bones
- Wrongful death
Many of Amtrak’s own employees have also paid dearly for the company’s negligence. Common job-related injuries for Amtrak workers involve:
- Slips, trips, and falls, such as in a rail yard or on a platform
- Being struck by falling objects
- Back injuries due to climbing in and out of trains
- Being fatally struck by a train
These injuries often result in permanent injuries or worse for the victim. They bring with them piles of medical debt and significant, unwelcome changes to their lifestyles. Tragic and unnecessary fatalities have also devastated entire families.
Do You Need an Experienced Amtrak Injury Lawyer?
Our lawyers are well-versed in the effective handling of Amtrak lawsuits. If you were injured or a loved one was killed in an Amtrak train accident, schedule a free consultation with our Virginia Amtrak injury law firm by calling (833) 997-1774 or by filling out the form on our website.