Washington DC Metro Train Accident Lawyers

Serious injuries deserve experienced attorneys

Even though the Metro provides economical and safe transportation for nearly 1 million people every day, it is not always safe and the need for a good Metro train accident law firm Washington DC commuters can rely on, is on the rise. If an injury was suffered while on a train or someplace on WMATA property, the victim may be entitled to compensation. Many Metro train accident victims find it helpful to seek compensation for their injuries with the help of a personal injury law firm that is experienced with Metro train accidents and WMATA related injuries.

The Metrorail which is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is the second busiest transit system in the nation. It serves people in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia and many of the surround states.

Many people have blamed Metro accidents and personal injuries on WMATA’s insufficient safety measures and upkeep of their trains, tracks and stations.

Metro Accident and WMATA Related Injuries

Injuries sustained from Metro accidents can be anywhere from minor to serious, sometimes even fatal. If someone is injured while on WMATA property, depending on the circumstances, this kind of injury could also be anywhere from minor to fatal.

• Typical Metro accidents include:
• Collisions between trains
• Derailments
• Operator errors
• Faulty equipment
• Improperly maintained tracks
• Improperly maintained trains
• Excessive speeds
• Improperly switched lines

Injuries that occur on WMATA property are often caused by:

• Poorly maintained stations, waiting areas and platforms
• Poorly lit stations, waiting areas and platforms
• Insufficient security and access to help
• Failure to accommodate disabled people
• Slick or uneven walking surfaces
• Poorly maintained pedestrian areas (walkways, stairways, etc.)
• Falling objects
• Violent attacks and muggings

The above lists are not comprehensive nor are they intended to be legal advice. If you or someone you love has been injured in a Metro train accident or on WMATA property, or unexpectedly died because of this, it may be in your best interest to contact the automobile accident lawyer Washington DC Metro train accident victims and their families can rely on.

Compensation for Metro Accident Victims and WMATA Related Injuries

When someone is injured or dies because of someone else’s, or another party’s, negligence, or reckless or malicious behavior, the victim and/or the victim’s family may be entitled to compensation. While the laws that determine this sort of claim differ from state to state, victims and their families typically seek compensation through a personal injury claim. When it comes to victims of Metro accident and WMATA related injuries, many victims find it helpful to have a personal injury law firm that has experience successfully defending the rights of Metro accident victims and their families, on their side.

The reasons an injured victim and their family, or the surviving family members of a deceased personal injury victim, may seek compensation for often include but are not limited to the following:

• Emergency services costs
• Medical bills
• Hospital bills
• Loss of income
• Loss of ability
• Loss of quality of life
• Loss of childcare
• Loss of household management and/or maintenance
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral costs
• Burial or cremation costs
• Loss of benefits
• Loss of retirement
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of parental guidance

The above are just some of the reasons that people seek compensation for personal injuries. If you or someone you love was injured in a Metro train accident or something that happened on WMATA property, you may be entitled to compensation.

For a Metro train accident law firm Washington DC Metro train accident victims and their families can trust, contact Cohen & Cohen for a free case evaluation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Metro Train Accident Lawyer

When people are injured on or while waiting for a metro train, it is recommended that they speak to a metro train accident lawyer because they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries.

There have been an unfortunate number of serious accidents in the past decade on the DC Metro. A particularly damaging accident occurred on the Yellow Line in 2015.

Kim Brooks-Rodney, a partner at Cohen & Cohen, was retained by injured victims of the Yellow Line smoke accident in Washington DC. Ms. Brooks-Rodney has a unique background for this kind of work in that she is a former Assistant General Counsel for WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authorit. As well, Ms. Brooks-Rodney represented victims of the 2009 deadly Metro crash. If you think you may be in need of an experienced metro train accident lawyer, Ms. Brooks-Rodney has the kind of experience that many victims of metro train accidents need in order to get the maximum amount of compensation they are entitled to for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The Yellow Line tragedy took place on January 12, 2015 in Washington DC. Smoke filled several Yellow Line metro rail subway cars, killing one passenger, and leaving over 84 people in need of emergency room treatment. Many of the victims required hospitalization.

The train was just South of the L’Enfant Plaza metro rail station when the horrific accident occurred. At the time of the accident, WMATA and the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) said that it would possibly be a full year before the cause of the accident would be determined- and to explain why it took forty to forty-five minutes for the passengers to be rescued.

Kim Brooks-Rodney is a highly rated metro train accident lawyer who is particularly familiar with public transportation injuries. She represented the loved ones of a couple killed in the 2009 WMATA metro crash and has helped many personal injury victims before them get the justice that they deserve.

If you have been injured while riding or waiting for a metro train, you may be in need of highly rated personal injury lawyers Washington DC relies on and who have successfully fought for the rights of past clients.

At this point in time, it is believed that the smoke that caused many passengers to be injured on the Yellow Line was caused by electrical arcing. This occurs when an electric current arcs and skips the involved circuit. Sometimes the arced spark may feed itself, growing larger and creating dangerous amounts of smoke.

The result of this malfunction may have been why the smoke filled the trains made breathing and seeing difficult for passengers.

Passengers were instructed to stay on the trains until they could be rescued. Some passengers remained in cars for an estimated 45 minutes. It is understandable that Metro officials wanted to assess the situation before directing passengers to safety but it is not understandable that they had hundreds of people stay in a smoke-filled environment for 45 minutes. The Metro should have a much more efficient system to keep passengers safe in an emergency. If you have been part of an accident while you were using public transportation, you may find it helpful to explain your situation to a metro train accident lawyer who can explain your rights and help to determine if you are entitled to compensation.

Washington DC EMS and fire services had a triage on D Street to help them examine exiting passengers. Fire and EMS workers reported seeing over two hundred (200) passengers.

One woman, 61-year-old Carol Glover, did not survive. Over eighty more passengers were hospitalized. One firefighter was injured during the rescue. The majority of the hospitalized passengers have now been now treated and released.

Like many cosmopolitan cities, the DC Metro is a powerful organization that does not like to admit their negligence and mistakes. A good metro train accident lawyer will fight tirelessly to try to insure that the rights of his clients are upheld. If you or a loved one has been the victim if a DC metro train incident, contact the Washington DC Metro Accident lawyers right away!

Smoke inhalation poses many dangers. Smoke often contains toxic chemical particles, which may irritate the air passages and lungs, and cause what is termed “chemical asphyxiation.” Even when it does not contain such particles, smoke may cause “simple asphyxiation” by occupying lung space and depriving the body of oxygen. In many instances, inhaling smoke can lead to both chemical and simple asphyxiation, as well as chemical and thermal irritation.

Metro and other public transportation riders often get injured on their trips even when there is not an accident that makes the news. When you discuss your situation with a good metro train accident lawyer, it may help you to make more informed decisions about what your next steps should be.
Kim Brooks-Rodney is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and the American University Washington College of Law.

If you are looking for an experienced and compassionate metro train accident lawyer like Ms. Kim Brooks-Rodney, contact Cohen & Cohen 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for a free case evaluation.