What Is Different About Train Accident Cases?
There are several unique factors in train accident cases that typically don’t come into play in other types of personal injury cases:
Multiple Jurisdictions: Trains often cross city, county, and state lines, which may bring in laws from several jurisdictions, including federal laws.
Government Entities: Trains are often operated by government bodies, making claims against them procedurally challenging.
Catastrophic Injuries: Train accidents can lead to severe injuries involving multiple victims, increasing the case’s complexity and stakes.
Complex Liability: Liability can involve operators, track owners, maintenance crews, manufacturers, demanding thorough investigation.
Federal Regulations: Trains are subject to federal laws and agencies, like the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which can significantly affect a case.
Black Box Data: Trains have “black boxes” that record critical data. Accessing and interpreting this data can be crucial in such cases.
Mass Torts/Class Action Suits: Due to the potential high number of victims, these cases can sometimes turn into mass tort or class action lawsuits.
Given these complexities, representation by an experienced train accident lawyer is crucial in such cases.