Unfortunately, train accidents are more common than you may think. In fact, every 115 minutes, a train somewhere in the United States strikes a person or vehicle. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a train accident, you may be entitled to compensation. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our seasoned Miami train accident attorneys can provide aggressive representation for those injured in life-changing train accidents.
Earlier this month, an 11-year-old Florida girl died after she was hit by an Amtrak train while crossing the tracks, according to police. The girl had headphones in her ears and was looking at her cell phone when the train hit her. The train conductor tried to blow the horn and brake multiple times but could not stop in time. The girl was pronounced dead at the scene.
Train accidents have been on the rise in Florida for the past few years. There were 27 trespassers who died in Florida in 2012, 28 in 2013, 36 in 2014, and 35 in the first nine months of 2015. These figures are even higher than those for New York. According to statistics compiled by the Federal Railroad Administration focusing on train accidents in South Florida, the number of people killed on train tracks in 2017 rose when compared to previous years. Twenty-three people died in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties through September this year, compared with 14 in all of 2016. These figures include individuals being killed accidentally as well as people using the tracks for suicides.
A number of factors and conditions may contribute to a train accident, including but not limited to excessive speeding, distracted drivers, track defects, faulty or defective parts, human error, or mechanical problems. If any of these factors played a role in your train accident case, we may be able to help. A victim in a train accident can bring a negligence claim against the at-fault party and seek monetary compensation for his or her injuries. A negligence claim is appropriate when an injury is a result of someone’s failure to exercise reasonable care in their actions or omissions. Reasonable care refers to the obligation to act as a sensible or prudent person would in the same or similar circumstances.
If you succeed in a train accident claim, you may be able to recover a variety of damages, such as medical bills, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering. In the event of a death, the victim’s family may be able to pursue medical bills, funeral and burial costs, loss of companionship, and more through a wrongful death claim.
If you or someone close to you has been injured in a train accident, you need to reach out to a dedicated Miami train accident attorney who can help. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, we can thoroughly review your case and help you determine your eligibility for monetary compensation. You can trust that we will discuss all potential avenues with you before moving forward on your case. To schedule your free consultation, call us at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or reach out to us online.
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