Train accidents lawyers note a May 12, 2015 Amtrak derailment in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia in which at least six passengers were killed and dozens more injured. Due to causes as of yet unknown to federal investigators, the engine and all seven passenger cars of Amtrak Train 188, en route to New York from Washington D.C., jumped the tracks just before 9:30pm on the evening of May 12.
Attorney Group can help those who have been injured in railroad accidents. Whenever an injury is caused by someone else’s fault, the injured person may be entitled to compensation. We offer free, no obligation consultations. We can answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated train accident attorney who can assist you through the legal process. The time to pursue a claim is often limited, so contact us today.
Passengers Describe a “Chaotic” Crash
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, a doctor at an area hospital that treated 54 injured passengers noted that his patients described the Amtrak train derailment as “chaotic” and stated that some of their injuries resulted from people or things falling on them.
From the Inquirer:
Amtrak Train 188, bound to New York from Washington with 238 passengers and five crew members aboard, jumped the tracks just before 9:30 p.m. on a curve in the Northeast Corridor’s Frankford Junction.
The area is normally under a speed restriction, requiring trains to slow down as they approach. Determining the speed of Train 188 at the time of the accident will be part of the investigation.
In the moments after the derailment, scores of emergency personnel swarmed over more than a half-dozen toppled train cars, trying to reach the dazed, the injured, the dying.
Some people were reported trapped in the train, and crews cut into the cars to free the injured.
An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board is expected to take months and “focus on the speed of the train, the condition of the track, possible mechanical problems or defects with the train and actions of the crew as they begin their work.”
When Human Error Causes Train Derailments, Victims May be Eligible for Compensation
Passenger trains traveling through highly populated areas must be operated and maintained with the utmost safety and care. When this does not occur, accidents often result, causing injury and loss of life. If these accidents are the result of negligence, those injured, and the families of those killed, may be entitled to compensation from the responsible party.
Train accident attorneys can assist injured parties recover compensation for damages, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Long term care needs
- Lost wages or income
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Scarring from an injury or medical treatment for an injury
- Other damages
The families of persons killed due to the fault of another may be eligible to recover compensation for their loved one’s wrongful death, including:
- Mental anguish, both past and future, resulting from the loss of a loved one
- Loss of the relationship with the loved one
- Loss of financial support
- Funeral expenses
- Conscious pain and suffering of the loved one prior to death
- Medical expenses attributable to the fatal injury
The Time to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
If you have questions about the Philadelphia Amtrak derailment, or if you have been injured or a loved one was killed in a train accident, contact Attorney Group today for more information. Our consultations are free, confidential and without obligation. If you decide to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated train accident attorney who can assist you through the legal process. Laws limit the time you have to file a lawsuit, so contact us today.
