California Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
An Amtrak train accident in Chatsworth, Los Angeles occurred on October 18, 2018 when a woman was struck by the train. The train was on its way from San Diego to San Luis Obispo when the accident occurred.
According to ABC 7 News, the woman was on the tracks when she was hit by the Amtrak passenger train near a tunnel along the 10300 block of N. Shadow Oaks Drive. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and the woman was “hoisted by a helicopter and transported to a hospital in unknown condition.”
At the time of this Los Angeles train accident, there were 107 people aboard the train. Train officials reported that there were no injuries to the passengers on the train. The accident caused Ventura County trains to experience significant delays.
As of right now, the reason why the woman was on the train tracks is not known. Sometimes people intentionally walk on the tracks in an attempt to end their own life, but other times there is some type of mistake or negligence that leads to a person being hit by a train. Sadly, California train accident injuries and deaths occur far too often. According to statistics by the Federal Railroad Administration, in 2017, 214 people in California were stuck by a train, and 123 of those accidents were fatal. California has the highest number of rail trespass casualties in the nation.
The legal ramifications of what happens after a train accident depend on the reason for the incident. Many times, a train accident is caused because a crossing location is unsafe or not properly barricaded when a train is passing. Another cause could be that the train operator or designer was negligent. If one of these situations occurs and a person is injured, that victim will likely be able to make a personal injury claim against the train company which can include Amtrak, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), or other train entities. If the victim was killed as a result of the accident, their family can make a wrongful death claim on behalf of their loved one.
Train accident personal injury or wrongful death cases can be tricky and require a detailed investigation to determine the cause and fault in the incident. This is why reaching out to an experienced personal injury and wrongful death attorney can be helpful. The attorney will understand how to move forward in an investigation, or how to collect and interpret any investigative materials already complied. Often times when Amtrak accidents occur, the National Transportation Safety Board will conduct an investigation, which can be very helpful to an attorney helping with a personal injury claim.
If you have been injured, or someone you love has been killed in a Los Angeles train accident, you should contact a skilled personal injury and wrongful death attorney at Walch Law right away. Dealing with the investigation and the proper filing of a personal injury claim can be overwhelming, especially during an already painful time. An experienced train accident attorney can help ease your burden and help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact our office today for a free consultation at 866-465-8792.