RESPECTED LAWYERS ASSIST PASSENGERS AFTER A COLLISION, DERAILMENT OR SLIP-AND-FALL

Rail travel is often touted as the smart alternative to congested highways, and rail transport is certainly vital to the nation’s economic interests. But heavy equipment moving at high speeds has enormous destructive potential. When something goes wrong due to negligent operation, faulty maintenance, defective design, or other unsafe conditions, the results can be disastrous.

Since 1959, the personal injury attorneys at Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC have represented passengers and bystanders injured in train mishaps. Train accidents can involve a complex set of factors interacting to cause an accident, making it essential to have knowledgeable and experienced lawyers investigate thoroughly and build the most persuasive case possible for relief.

DIVERSE LEGAL TEAM FOCUSES EXPERIENCE AND RESOURCES ON YOUR TRAIN ACCIDENT CASE

Train accidents can occur for many different reasons, including negligent operation, inadequate maintenance, defective equipment, unsafe crossings, dangerous conditions at railway stations, or problems with tracks and other infrastructure.

Determining what caused a train accident may require reviewing maintenance records, operating procedures, safety regulations, accident reports, witness statements, photographs, video footage, and other evidence. Depending on the circumstances, expert witnesses may also be needed to evaluate the train, tracks, equipment, or conditions surrounding the accident.

Railroads and other transportation entities may have significant resources available to defend against injury claims. If you are among those injured, you need legal representation capable of conducting a thorough investigation and pursuing your claim. Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC has a skilled and diverse legal team experienced in complex litigation. We also have the resources to finance your lawsuit through trial to verdict if necessary.

COMMON TYPES OF TRAIN ACCIDENTS

Train-related injuries can occur in a variety of circumstances. Our attorneys can help investigate claims involving:

• Train collisions
• Train derailments
• Railroad crossing accidents
• Passenger injuries aboard trains
• Unsafe conditions on trains or at stations
• Railway station slip-and-fall accidents
• Inadequate maintenance of tracks or equipment
• Negligent operation of trains
• Defective railroad equipment

When a train accident involves unsafe property conditions at a station or other location, a premises liability claim may be appropriate. Other cases may involve governmental entities or public transportation systems, making the circumstances of the claim especially important to investigate.

SKILLED INJURY ATTORNEYS LITIGATE RAILWAY STATION SLIP-AND-FALL ACCIDENTS

Passenger rail lines, such as Amtrak and Sound Transit, serve thousands of Washingtonians every day. Negligence with respect to station maintenance can allow litter and debris to accumulate. During inclement weather, stairwells and platforms can become slippery. Failure to address these and other unsafe conditions can lead to premises liability accidents resulting in:

• Fractures
• Concussions
• Ligament damage
• Neck and spine injuries
• Paralysis
• Wrongful death

Slip-and-fall accidents, even those resulting in catastrophic spinal injury or brain injury, are extremely difficult to prove, especially against a well-defended entity like a publicly funded railroad. To enhance your prospects of obtaining complete compensation, it is important to retain a law firm with the resources to prosecute your case fully.

COMMON INJURIES IN TRAIN ACCIDENTS

Train accidents can result in severe injuries because of the size, weight, and force involved in a collision or derailment. Depending on the circumstances, victims may suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Internal injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Soft tissue injuries
• Burns
• Paralysis
• Emotional trauma

Some injuries may require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, or long-term care. In fatal train accidents, surviving family members may also have a potential wrongful death claim.

INVESTIGATING LIABILITY AFTER A TRAIN ACCIDENT

Determining who is responsible for a train accident can be complicated. Depending on how the accident occurred, potentially responsible parties may include a railroad operator, transportation company, property owner, maintenance contractor, equipment manufacturer, or governmental entity.

Our attorneys investigate the circumstances surrounding an accident to determine whether negligence, inadequate maintenance, defective equipment, unsafe premises, or another factor contributed to the injuries. We work with qualified experts when necessary to help establish the cause of an accident and the extent of the resulting losses.

If a defective product or piece of equipment contributed to the accident, a product liability claim may also need to be considered.

Contact our Tacoma trial attorneys for train accident cases throughout Washington

If you or a loved one was injured in a train accident anywhere in Washington, our seasoned legal team is ready to help. Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler PLLC has the knowledge, experience and resources to adeptly prosecute your case.

Train accident claims can involve complicated investigations and multiple potentially responsible parties. Prompt legal assistance can help preserve important evidence and determine what claims may be available.

To schedule a free consultation, call us at 253-383-5388 or contact our office online.