The Los Angeles Metro and LA Metroline are popular ways to get from one destination to another in Southern California. Unfortunately, some of the most catastrophic injuries occur as the result of Metro train accidents. If you were hurt by a commuter train in L.A., you may need to file an injury lawsuit against Los Angeles Metro to recover for your damages.
Train operators like the L.A. Metro, Metrolink, and Amtrak all have a legal duty to keep their passengers safe. In fact, California law holds common carriers like railways to a higher standard as it pertains to public safety. Trains and light rails in Los Angeles, California must exercise absolute care and takes all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of riders.
What is Metrolink?
Metrolink is the seventh largest train system in the country in terms of ridership. Metrolink’s railways serve passengers in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County. Thousands of people across Southern California rely on Metrolink to get them to and from work every day.
Sadly, Metrolink is second in the U.S. in terms of train fatalities, behind New Jersey. There have been over 100 Metrolink deaths since 1998 and the figure will continue to grow as long as all train operators, managers, and supervisors fail to live up to their legally prescribed duty.
Filing claims against Los Angeles Metro
Railways owned by federal, state, and municipal governments often require injured victims to fill out notice of claim forms for their damages. Notice of claim forms must be filed within six months or the injury victim may have his or her claim denied.
Notice of claims with federal and local governments include information like the name, age, address, social security number of the injured victim. Forms may ask injury victims to describe any injuries to themselves or their property.
It may be necessary to include information like police reports, title of property ownership, medical bills, and pay stubs for lost wages in order to make a compelling case for your injury. Having an experience LA train accident attorney handle your case can help ensure all the proper details are included in your paperwork.
Can I file a lawsuit against LA Metro?
In many jurisdictions, if the government entity denies your claim or you are unhappy with the settlement offer, you may file a civil lawsuit against the municipality or train operator. Having the right attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of your case. Often times there are time restrictions for filing claims against train lines like LA Metro and Metroline, so speak to an attorney as soon as possible about your legal rights.
Train accident attorneys have the resources and legal knowledge to help train accident victims and their families use the law to make themselves whole again. The law allows injury victims to recover damages for their lost wages, pain and suffering, hospital bills, and property damage. If you are injured in a Los Angeles Metro or Metroline train accident, contact an experienced auto accident attorney and make sure you get the compensation you deserve.