How Can a Train Accident Attorney Help Me?
Train accidents can have devastating consequences. Because of their size and weight, the impact of a train accident often results in catastrophic injuries or death. Survivors of train accidents may suffer from physical, emotional, and financial damages. Liable parties should be held accountable for losses related to a train accident, but they often deny liability or attempt to reach a quick settlement that doesn’t fully account for accident damages.
A train accident attorney can help accident victims pursue the maximum compensation they are due after a collision. Train accident attorneys at The Tawwater Law Firm in Oklahoma City, OK, work tirelessly on behalf of their clients. They investigate an accident, establish liability, and demonstrate damages so victims can be justly compensated.
An Attorney Can Investigate the Cause of a Train Accident
Just as when a car crash occurs, the first step of proving liability for a train accident is determining the cause of the collision. Our attorneys work with accident investigators to recreate a train accident and establish its cause. We collect evidence such as:
- On-board video
- Information from an event data recorder (similar to a plane’s black box)
- Dispatch records
- Track profiles
- Radio communication to and from the train
- The train company’s policies and procedures manual
- Reports from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Federal Railroad Association (FRA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
- Police reports
- Witness and expert testimony
An Attorney Can Establish Accident Liability
Using the information gathered during an investigation, attorneys can establish liability for a train accident. Common causes of train accidents include:
- Mistakes made by the train’s engineer or conductor
- Mechanical malfunctions or failures (of the train or train track)
- Operating the train while distracted
- Lack of railroad crossing signals
Depending on the circumstances of a train accident, liability may fall on the railroad company, employees of the railroad company, or parts manufacturers.
An Attorney Can Demonstrate Accident Damages
Establishing liability is one aspect of a train accident; another is demonstrating the extent of damages caused by the crash. It is not uncommon for responsible parties to deny liability for an accident or minimize payments to accident victims. Our attorneys work with injury victims in Oklahoma City to show the full extent of losses related to a train accident, which may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Cost of ongoing therapy and rehabilitation
- Cost of assistive medical devices
- Lost wages
- Diminished wage-earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
- Wrongful death damages (if accident injuries are fatal)
Attorneys negotiate with insurance agents or railroad representatives to fight for a just settlement for injured parties. If an acceptable settlement is not reached, our attorneys are prepared to take a case to court and fight for just compensation.
Contact Us
Train accident victims often suffer catastrophic physical, emotional, and financial damages. A train accident attorney helps victims hold liable parties accountable and fight for just compensation. To find out how attorneys at The Tawwater Law Firm can help you in the aftermath of a train accident, send us a message and schedule a consultation at our Oklahoma City practice.