Two rail line workers in California were killed on October 19, 2013 when a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train traveled through the area in which they were working. Two daughters of one of the late workers filed a wrongful death suit in Alameda County Superior Court on May 16, 2014, alleging that an operator who was in training and not yet experienced drove the train.
The accident happened during a routine training and maintenance run. According to officials, the train’s speed was an estimated 60 miles per hour, and the locomotive was operated by a driver-in-training. Reports from Cal/OSHA state that the driver’s trainer was not in the cab at the time of the accident and that the driver was not yet ready to operate the train without supervision.
According to reports, BART was fined $210,000 in April 2014 after the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health determined that the driver was, in fact, inexperienced. The accident came during a time when BART insisted its workers take sole responsibility for their safety. Cal/OSHA also issued Bart an additional fine for this practice, which has since been discontinued, and required that BART change its rules so that workers are now well informed when a train will be traveling through the area.
The Importance of Wrongful Death Attorneys
Attorneys are usually needed to assist surviving family in properly pursuing wrongful death claims. An experienced attorney in California can review the circumstances surrounding the death, evaluate the case, speak to witnesses, obtain expert testimonies and help build solid evidence in a wrongful death suit.
While workers’ compensation claims can potentially provide the money necessary to help recover some damages, they are often not enough for all of the damages associated with wrongful death claims. For this reason, it is important to work with an experienced attorney who can help file a wrongful death suit in an attempt to seek appropriate compensation for damages.
Do You Have a Wrongful Death Suit in California?
If you have lost a loved one due to the negligence or carelessness of another in California, contact Attorney Group for California for more information about filing a wrongful death suit. We can answer questions and provide you with a consultation, free of charge, during which we can help you determine if you have a case. Should you decide to seek compensation for your losses, we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can file your wrongful death suit and assist you throughout the legal process.
