Melissa LaFreniere  |  May 22, 2015

Category: Consumer News

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amtrak-crash-lawsuitThe federal government cap of $200 million for rail-accident damages may not be enough to cover victim medical bills of the Philadelphia Amtrak train crash that killed eight and injured more than 200 on May 12.

The first of what is expected to be many personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits against the U.S. passenger train line was filed last Friday by a passenger who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the crash.

Plaintiff Bruce P., who is an Amtrak employee, is seeking $150,000 in damages as he continues to suffer both physically and emotionally after the violent crash.

Amtrak Crash Overview

An Amtrak train traveling from Washington to New York in excess speed of 100 miles per hour derailed in a Philadelphia neighborhood while carrying 238 passengers and five employees. Video data taken from a camera mounted on the Amtrak train shows the vehicle was traveling at speeds that were more than twice the limit.

Engineer Brandon Bostain claims he has no memory of the crash as he was apparently knocked unconscious. Brandon is expected to give his testimony to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) at a later date.

Video surveillance shows the passenger train going off the tracks after train engineer Bostain applied full brakes slowing the moving vehicle to 102 miles per hour on a 50 mph curve before it derailed. The crash resulted in eight deaths, while at least six individuals remain in critical condition.

Amtrak Crash Lawsuits

In 1997, Congress agree to limit the amount of damages that railroad accidents might incur to a maximum of $200 million in an effort to help the ailing train business. Legal experts expect many lawsuits to be filed by passengers who suffered injuries in the Amtrak Philadelphia crash.

Investigators are looking into many unanswered questions after this most recent Amtrak crash including:

  • Did something about the track cause the crash?
  • Why did the train accelerate as it approached the curve?
  • Was it a mechanical failure that caused the train to speed up?
  • Did the alarm system that warns the operator of excess speed fail?
  • Was the engineer to blame for the accident?

The first Amtrak lawsuit filed by employee Brandon B. claims the plaintiff will continue to suffer a loss of earnings after suffering physical pain and mental anguish because of the Amtrak crash.

The plaintiff alleges Amtrak is responsible for the crash due to “failing to properly and safely operate the train, operating the train at a speed and in a manner that was unsafe in light of the geographic conditions and the train and track configuration … failing to provide available, necessary and appropriate systems to slow and/or stop the train … and to properly oversee and control the movement of the train.”

If you or a a loved one were a victim of this Amtrak train crash, you may have legal claim.

Obtain a Free Amtrak Train Crash Lawsuit Evaluation

If you or a loved one were injured or killed during the May 12, 2015 Amtrak derailment, you may have a legal claim.

Get a Free Case Evaluation

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