Recent Crashes Concerning To New York Train Derailment Attorneys

Fatal train accidents, including the Amtrak derailment that recently killed eight passengers, are a serious concern to the New York personal injury attorneys at The Sanders Firm, who are investigating liability issues that could qualify victims for compensation to pay for medical bills, lost wages and other losses.

Speed cited in Amtrak derailment

The Amtrak derailment, which occurred in Philadelphia on May 12, is currently under investigation. What officials do know is at the time of the derailment, the train was traveling at 106 miles per hour on a sharp curve where the speed limit was 50. Even prior to the curve, the speed limit was only 80, raising serious questions about why the train was moving that fast on that particular portion of the track.

The train was carrying approximately 238 passengers and eight crew members when the engine and seven cars jumped the track. Witnesses report that passengers and their luggage went flying in some of the cars. In addition to the eight confirmed dead, eight more had been reported in critical condition at Temple University Hospital. More than 200 passengers and crew members were treated at hospitals, but most had been released.

Some close to the investigation have said that officials are focusing on speed as a primary factor in the crash. A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) told CNN that the agency would be looking into many possible reasons behind the excessive speed, including the condition of the track, possible mechanical failure and human error. Questions have also arisen as to whether an object struck the train before it derailed.

The train’s engineer, Brandon Bostian, has told authorities investigating the crash that he does not remember what happened. He was also treated for injuries after the derailment, including stitches in the head. An attorney representing Bostian told the New York Times that his client was fully cooperating with the investigation and had given officials his cell phone number and a blood sample.

The railroad accident closed the busy Amtrak Northeast Corridor between Philadelphia and New York for nearly one full week. Amtrak is planning to reopen the corridor on May 18, after making immediate safety improvements in the area of the crash site, according to orders from the Federal Railroad Administration.

Metro-North crash kills six

This derailment follows another devastating train crash that took place in February. The Metro-North crash occurred in Valhalla and killed six people. The accident occurred February 3 during a rush-hour, when a passenger train collided with a sport utility vehicle at the at the Commerce Street grade crossing. The driver of the SUV, a mother of three from Edgemont, was one of the fatalities in that crash. The other five were passengers on the train.

While train crashes are not a frequent occurrence, when they do happen, they can affect a large number of people. In the first two months of 2015, there were 133 fatalities related to railroad incidents. The large majority of accidents during that period were related to derailments. Even those who are not killed may suffer severe injuries that involve extensive medical treatment and possible lost wages if they are unable to work for an extended period due to their injuries.

New York train derailment attorneys

At the Sanders Firm, our attorneys have seen firsthand the life-changing results of train accidents. We represent victims, helping them pursue the legal compensation they desperately need to pay for hospital bills and other accident-related expenses.

If you would like more information about pursuing a train accident lawsuit in New York, contact the Sanders Firm at 1-800-FAIR-PLAY to discuss your legal options and get a free evaluation of your case. Resources

  1. CNN, Amtrak Train Thought to be Going Twice as Fast as it Should Have Been, https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/13/us/philadelphia-amtrak-train-derailment/
  2. New York Times, Amtrak Train Derailed going 106 M.P.H. on Sharp Curve; at Least 7 Killed, https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/14/us/amtrak-train-derails-crash-philadelphia.html?_r=1
  3. Washington Post, NTSB Investigator: Amtrak Engineer did no Report an Object Hitting Train, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ntsb-amtrak-investigator-engineer-did-not-report-an-object-hitting-train/2015/05/17/a76affc2-fcb6-11e4-8b6c-0dcce21e223d_story.html
  4. NJ.com, Booker: Amtrak Crash Shows Need for More Public Works Spending, https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/05/booker_amtrak_crash_shows_need_for_more_public_works_spending.html
  5. Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Safety Analysis, https://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety/publicsite/summary.aspx
  6. Lohud, Metro-North Valhalla Crash: 34 Potential Lawsuits on Tap, https://www.lohud.com/story/news/transit/2015/05/05/metro-north-valhalla-crash-claims/26934599/