A railroad accident in Passaic can cause serious, life-threatening injuries and even lead to fatalities. If you were injured or a loved one died due to a railroad accident, our client support team can help you fight for the monetary recovery you are entitled to due to negligence.
Railroad cars and crossings can be dangerous places. If you or someone you love was injured in a railroad accident, a Passaic railroad accident attorney from our team can help you prove the negligence that caused your accident. Our team can also help you assign a value to your injuries, compile the documents that prove their value, and negotiate a favorable settlement with the railroad or their insurer.
Railroad Companies Have a Responsibility to Injured Employees
After a railroad accident, you may want to pursue compensation for your injuries and the related expenses that stem from your injuries. 45 U.S. Code Chapter 2 of the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) outlines the responsibility a railroad company has to compensate its injured employees.
FELA also requires these companies to compensate the surviving family members of employees who were fatally injured. As an employee, you are entitled to compensation for injuries caused by the railroad company’s:
- Cars
- Boats
- Tracks
- Engines
- Wharves
- Machinery
- Equipment
- Appliances
If you were injured while working for the railroad, we are on your side. When we delve into the cause of your accident, we will build an evidence file that establishes your right to compensation and consult experts and engineers as needed.
Railroad Companies Have a Responsibility to Injured Passengers and Drivers
If you were a passenger on a train or a vehicle occupant injured at a railroad crossing, you might be eligible for compensation because railroad companies have a responsibility to safeguard their passengers and other injured parties.
According to Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) statistics, there were 7,958 railroad accidents that caused injuries and 878 that led to fatalities in 2019. Of these accidents, the reported causes include:
- Collisions
- Derailments
- Track issues
- Human error
- Faulty equipment
- Rail yard accidents
- Signal-related factors
To prove the railroad company’s negligence, we will interview others involved in the accident, examine records and data for employees on duty at the time of the accident, and consult experts and others who can support your right to compensation due to negligence.
Financial Damages You Can Recover
A railroad accident can lead to serious injuries and significant medical expenses. Your injuries, in turn, can cause significant financial strain. The cost of treating your injuries might be recoverable by filing a personal injury lawsuit. The health care expenses a successful lawsuit could help you recover include:
- Emergency care
- Hospital admissions
- Follow-up care
- Therapy and rehabilitation
- Required medications
- Assistive medical devices
In addition to your health care expenses, we can also help you recover the non-medical costs that stem from your injuries. Those may include immediate and anticipated loss of income, property damage or loss, physical and emotional pain and suffering, and lasting physical impairments or permanent scarring.
Your Right to Recovery Is Limited
Filing a civil lawsuit in New Jersey is time-sensitive and must comply with the state’s filing deadline. If the deadline expires, you could inadvertently relinquish your right to file your lawsuit and the at-fault party can no longer be legally compelled to compensate you. With early involvement, we can help you comply with the following filing deadlines:
- NJ Rev Stat § 2A:14-2 generally allows injured railroad accident victims to file a personal injury lawsuit within two years of the date the injuries occurred.
- NJ Rev Stat § 2A:31-3 generally allows surviving family members of a railroad accident fatality two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Certain factors may alter the statute of limitations, which can make understanding and complying with your filing deadline complicated. The best way to ensure compliance and reduce the risk of an expired statute of limitations is to work with our legal team. Our Passaic railroad accident attorneys are familiar with federal and New Jersey law and can help ensure timely filing of your lawsuit.
Get a Financial Settlement without a Court Battle
In 2015, we represented victims who were injured as the result of a train derailment. We negotiated a $265 million monetary settlement on their behalf. When we fight for your financial recovery, we start by assessing the value of your injuries and use that number to drive the settlement negotiation process.
The process also typically involves an offer being made by the at-fault party or a demand letter being sent by your representative. Each offer is then carefully considered before being accepted or rejected. We will help you determine the feasibility of each offer and make the best decision for you.
As part of the negotiation process, we will also build your evidence file, direct interviews and depositions, and conduct discovery sessions. Railroad safety is a critical part of avoiding employee, passenger, and driver injuries. If negligence in any form played a role in your injuries, our investigation team will help you prove it.
We Help Injured Railroad Employees and Passengers Seek Compensation
Whether you are a railroad passenger or employee, railroad accident cases can be complex and involved. You do not have to navigate the legal terrain of a complicated compensation lawsuit alone. Our team of Passaic railroad accident lawyers can help you develop and negotiate a financial settlement with the at-fault party’s insurer.
If you are entitled to financial compensation because of the railroad’s negligence, we can help you fight for it. Contact the case review team at Morelli Law Firm by calling (212) 751-9800 to get started today.