Cargo trains still crisscross the Connecticut landscape, and passenger trains are a common way for residents to commute to work or visit other cities. Although trains are safe compared to cars and trucks, when accidents happen the results can be devastating.
When you or a family member is hurt or killed in a train accident, contact a Connecticut train accident lawyer at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, right away. Our compassionate personal injury attorneys devote their careers to helping injured people secure compensation for serious injuries.
Train accidents can take many forms. Regardless of the type of train accident, a Connecticut attorney at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, can ensure you receive maximum compensation.
A train derailment or collision can cause a release of the train’s cargo. An entire neighborhood could suffer harm when the train is carrying hazardous or toxic substances that poison the water, ground, or atmosphere. When a train crash causes a fire or explosion, the toxic smoke also might cause harm to people in the surrounding areas.
Derailments and collisions can cause serious or fatal injuries to train passengers and even passersby. A collision between a train and a vehicle at a railroad crossing often kills the vehicle occupants or leaves them with catastrophic injuries. People sometimes slip off the platform and get hit by a train, suffer injuries on stairways in stations, or are victims of crime in station parking lots. In any of these scenarios, the train operator and others might be liable.
Anyone seeking compensation for losses they suffered in a railway accident must prove someone was negligent. In most cases, negligence means a failure to use reasonable care to avoid harm to others. However, common carriers like trains must meet a higher standard. Transportation companies, including railroads, must use the utmost care to protect passengers and others from harm. Any deviation from appropriate safety practices could be evidence of negligence.
Most railroad accidents result from human error. Mishandling track switches, driving too fast for the conditions, and even operating a train while drunk are potential causes of accidents. Inadequate maintenance of the track, train, or signals could cause severe accidents.
Passenger train accidents and mishaps resulting in death or significant property damage are investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). A proactive Connecticut lawyer from D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, will study the final report closely for evidence the train’s owner or operator was negligent. Even when the NTSB does not investigate, your dedicated legal professional will scrutinize all available evidence to find evidence that the railroad operator’s failure to take the utmost care caused your losses.
When a train accident causes a significant injury, representatives of the train operator’s insurance company often take the initiative and approach victims with settlement offers. These initial offers never approach the potential value of a claim, so it’s important not to even discuss them with the representative.
Hiring an attorney to handle your Connecticut train accident claim is the smartest way to proceed. A legal professional from D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, can handle all communications with the train operator and their insurers to promote good-faith negotiations.
Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584 requires an injured person to file a lawsuit seeking compensation within two years of their injury. However, there may be complicated procedural requirements you must meet depending on the owner/operator of the train and rail line. When you were involved in a collision with a train operated by a governmental or quasi-governmental agency like Amtrak, MetroNorth, or the Connecticut Department of Transportation, strict notice requirements may apply to your claim. Working with an experienced lawyer ensures you will meet the notice requirements and preserve your opportunity to sue.
Train accident claims can be complicated to pursue. Having a skilled and experienced Connecticut train accident lawyer managing your claim and guiding you through the legal process is crucial.
The attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, have obtained maximum compensation for accident victims for decades. Reach out today to schedule a free, in-person or remote consultation with one of our skilled legal professionals.
