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Phoenix Train Accident Attorney
A number of freight and passenger railroad lines crisscross Arizona. The state has 1,645 miles of freight railroads in addition to Amtrak passenger trains and the METRO passenger rail that connects Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. Arizona officials are also considering a rail line between Phoenix and Tucson.
The U.S. has the world’s safest railways and compared to motor vehicle accidents, train accidents cause few injuries and fatalities. The size and capacity of trains, however, creates the potential for devastating accidents. And when trains collide with persons and motor vehicles, the outcome is more often than not deadly. According to national statistics, a motorist is roughly 20 times more likely to die in a crash with a train than in a crash with another motor vehicle.
Train operation involves multiple parties, and sorting through accident liability can be difficult. If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a train accident, compensation may be available. But you are well advised not to fight that battle alone. You need help from an experienced AZ train accident attorney.
Rudy Resendez of Resendez Injury Law Group knows all-too-well the tragic outcomes of train accidents. At the age of eight Rudy survived a car-train crash that claimed the life of his young mother. He understands what you are going through and will do everything possible to see you through this difficult time.
Tell Rudy your story during a free case review and find out how he can help: call (602) 824-9444 or complete an online form.
Understanding Arizona Rail Accidents
While car, truck and other motor vehicle accidents happen every day, railroad accidents are less common, and thus there is a lower level of familiarity with them. The following sections shed some more light on train accidents.
How common are train accidents?
Over a recent 5-year period, according to the Federal Railroad Admiration (FRA), there were approximately 10,000 railroad accidents resulting in 3,600 fatalities and 42,000 injuries in the United States. In Arizona, those figures are 90, 62 and 397, respectively.
What are the different types of train accidents?
A train accident typically involves one of the following scenarios:
- Derailment
- Collision with another train
- Impact with a motor vehicle
- Impact with a rail obstruction
- Impact with a person
- Explosion or fire
What causes train accidents?
Train accidents have many specific causes; FRA codes accidents based on these major causes:
- Human factor (including things like the driver being asleep, failure to comply with orders and equipment-handling errors)
- Signal defect (such as power switch failure or communication equipment failure)
- Track defect (i.e. soft roadbed, washouts and other damage)
- Equipment defect (specifically, mechanical and electrical defects like overheated bearings and broken couplers)
- Highway-rail crossing (most often trespassers along railroad rights-of way; nearly every 180 minutes somebody in the U.S. is struck by a train)
Who can be held responsible for a train accident?
Every train accident has multiple factors and therefore multiple individuals who may have played a contributing role. Among the parties that may bear responsibility for an accident are:
- The train operator
- The railway owner
- The company that manufactured, sold, installed, repaired or serviced the train or train component (if the accident was caused by a defective train or part)
- A government entity that owns or operates the railroad (Amtrak, for example, is under federal control, while Phoenix is responsible for the city’s light rail system)
If you were injured on Amtrak or Metro Light Rail, bear in mind that there are strict filing deadlines for injury claims against government entities. A Notice of Claim must be filed within 180 days of the accident, while a lawsuit must be initiated within 1 year of the accident. A Phoenix personal injury attorney can help you comply with these all-important deadlines.
What about injured railroad workers?
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) covers injured railroad workers in a fashion similar to state workers compensation, although unlike workers comp, FELA is a fault-based system. FELA awards, however, tend to be higher than workman’s comp awards. Speak with Resendez Injury Law Group to learn more about railroad workers rights.
Protect Your Rights. Speak With an Arizona Railroad Accident Attorney.
Rudy Resendez and his staff are committed to professional excellence and personalized service. As a train accident survivor, Rudy knows what you’re going through and will seek maximum compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other losses. He can also guide you through a wrongful death claim if a loved one died in a train crash.
Learn your legal rights and options through a free case review: call or contact us today.
From our Phoenix offices we serve clients in Peoria, Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye, Surprise, Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek and all other areas of Arizona including Flagstaff, Yuma and Gila Bend.
For More Information:
- U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Railroad Administration:
- Operation Lifesaver: Latest Rail Safety Statistics
- Association of American Railroads: U.S. Freight Railroad Industry Snapshot (Arizona)
- The Washington Times: Train wrecks keep U.S. on safety track for world’s lowest fatality rate
- Federal Employers Liability Act: About the Federal Employers’ Liability Act
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