Train Accident in San Bruno Area Involves Work Truck
A commuter train accident in the San Francisco bay area caused 13 injuries on March 10 after it crashed into a construction truck and caught fire. The accident happened in the San Bruno area sometime after 10:30 a.m. when the Caltrain commuter No. 506 struck a work truck equipped with a crane. A huge explosion occurred when they collided, sending flames and smoke erupting.
Work Truck Struck by Caltrain
The truck rolled over, ending up on its side across the tracks, and the train was on fire in the front portion, trailing toward the back, which was quickly extinguished by firefighters. The workmen were switching the electrification of the transit system to power engines with electric motors. It was reported that around 75 passengers were on board the commuter train at the time of the collision.
Multiple Injuries Reported in Commuter Train Accident
The train engineer and 11 passengers suffered injuries as well as the driver of the truck, who reportedly suffered serious burns. Six people were transported to hospitals, according to Dan Lieberman, a spokesman for Caltrain. By that evening, two people involved in the train accident remained hospitalized.
Commuter Train Responsibilities
Commuter rail is an important part of the nation’s transportation system. However, they are expected to operate in a safe manner that avoids injuries to their workers and passengers accessing the system. Commuter rail systems are responsible not only for train operations but also for dispatching them as well as maintenance of the equipment and way. When people suffer serious injuries in a commuter rail accident, which are often serious or fatal, they can be liable for damages. Because multiple entities may be liable in a train collision, such as the operator of the train, dispatch, work crews, etc., enlisting the help of an injury lawyer to claim damages is important to get the compensation you deserve.
Investigating Negligence That Leads to a Train Accident
Liability in a train accident may include a wide variety of companies as well as individuals, including:
- A derailed train may occur due to a number of problems.
- A negligent engineer can cause a train wreck by being distracted, unqualified for the job, drinking, or other reasons.
- Defects in the train tracks can cause it to derail or crash.
- Speeding can cause a crash, especially when going around a curve in the tracks or not paying attention to potential problems up ahead.
- Mechanical failure causes around 10 percent of all train crashes.
- Failure to brake in time to avoid a collision can be a problem. However, stopping a train requires a long distance to stop because of its weight.
- A lack of appropriate railroad crossing protection for pedestrians and vehicles can lead to an accident.
- Faulty or nonfunctioning crossing alarms, arms or other warning signals can cause a collision with a train.
- The horn wasn’t sounded by the engineer upon the approach of a train crossing.
- Scheduling was negligent, placing two trains on the same track, or roadwork in the area was being performed when a train was passing.
Investigating a Commuter Train Accident
A lawsuit must prove negligence on the part of the train conductor, company, or other entities for compensation to be awarded. As part of our investigation, our investigators travel to the scene of the train crash to collect any evidence that supports our client’s claim. The company records need to be reviewed, negligence should be looked into and whether the train crossing has been maintained. Once we have gathered the evidence, our lawyers can use it to build a claim for compensation, which they may then employ when negotiating with the insurance company on the client’s behalf or in court.
Commuter Train Accident Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, a commuter train accident lawyer. When injuries are suffered in a train collision, you may be able to recover damages by placing a personal injury claim. Contact us at (916) 921-6400 for our free and friendly advice. We can review your case, answer your questions, and tell you what options there are to recover compensation. We can also be reached at (800) 404-5400 or by sending us a message online.
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Photo attribution: Image by Enrique Meseguer from Pixabay
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