Over 200 people sustained injuries, and eight lost their lives due to the derailment of a Northeast Regional Amtrak train traveling from Washington, D.C., to New York on May 12, 2015. The accident happened in Philadelphia.
An Amtrak train traveling from Washington, D.C., to New York City derailed in a neighborhood in Philadelphia on May 12, 2015. At the time of the accident, the train was traveling over 100 MPH, more than twice the recommended speed for that section of track.
The train had 238 passengers and five crew members aboard at the time of the derailment. Many people aboard the train were seriously hurt. In fact, 200 people sustained injuries, and eight people lost their lives in the accident. In the immediate aftermath of the derailment, first responders and many local residents rushed to assist the injured.
Individuals involved in the crash traveled to five local hospitals for treatment, and train service experienced disruption for a few days. The lawyers at Morelli Law are here to provide information on the 2015 Philadelphia Amtrak derailment and the $265 million settlement won for the victims.
What Caused the Amtrak Derailment?
The National Transportation Safety Board identified several reasons for the derailment. The board decided that the derailment occurred due to the engineer’s distraction and loss of situation awareness.
However, a jury later acquitted the engineer of reckless endangerment, involuntary manslaughter, and causing a disaster.
The board also stated that positive train control (a system that limits the speed of trains) or automatic train control(ATC) could have reduced the odds of a derailment or prevented the disaster outright.
The $265 Million Settlement for the 2015 Philadelphia Amtrak Derailment
Individuals hurt by the derailment and their family members brought legal cases against Amtrak in the aftermath of the accident. In all, individuals filed over 125 cases against the transportation company.
It took around a year for the cases to go through the court system before Amtrak reached a $265 million settlement over the deadly Philadelphia crash. The money went into a trust, and legal professionals handled the distribution process for the injured.
Record-Setting Settlement for Derailment Victims
The $265 million settlement for the 2015 Philadelphia Amtrak derailment set records for the largest amount of compensation ever awarded in this type of case. The large settlement amount occurred due to the extent of damages, the number of plaintiffs, and changes to the law.
Congress increased the damage cap for single-rail accidents in the immediate aftermath of the 2015 derailment. Previously, the court capped damages for these accidents at $200. After the Amtrak derailment, Congress increased the cap to $295.
Therefore, plaintiffs from the 2015 derailment received almost the full amount available for their losses.
Amtrack Added Safety Features to Prevent Future Accidents
To prevent catastrophic accidents like this one in the future, Amtrak made changes to its tracks to improve safety. One of these changes includes the installation of an ATC system on the northbound tracks where the derailment occurred.
An ATC system helps improve safety by supervising the train and ensuring it is driven safely. This system also warns the driver if there is potential for a derailment and, if necessary, brakes the train. With this new system in place, Amtrak hopes to prevent a similar accident from occurring in the future.
Our Team Helped With the 2015 Amtrak Derailment
The New York personal injury lawyers at the Morelli Law Firm sued Amtrak over the 2015 crash. We represented an injured party after the collision, providing legal advice as our client recovered from multiple fractures and other injuries.
Our initial client needed extensive medical treatment, including multiple surgeries and physical rehabilitation. The historic settlement reached through the legal process served to cover these losses, allowing our client to move forward.
We Served As Interim Co-lead Counsel for Amtrak Plaintiffs
Judge Legrome Davis, one of the court members who handled the 2015 Amtrak derailment, appointed our team at the Morelli Law Firm as interim co-lead counsel to represent the plaintiffs involved in the derailment. Our team consists of the following attorneys:
- Benedict P. Morelli
- Alexander R. Morelli
- David T. Sirotkin
- Perry S. Fallick
- Sara A. Mahoney
- Michael S. Schlesinger
- Danielle H. Lamberg
- Erin P. Mullen Sala
- Joseph M. Nejathaim
- David L. Sobiloff
- Allan Y. Tai
We assisted plaintiffs through the multidistrict litigation (MDL) process, which allowed plaintiffs to collect all their cases together to seek ample compensation, which we secured through a $265 million settlement.
While handling the 2015 derailment, we reported on a fatal Amtrak collision nearly one year after a previous accident. The 2016 derailment also involved a train exceeding 100 MPH.
Focusing on Future Train Derailments
Since the 2015 disaster, passengers on Amtrak trains have experienced additional derailments. In these situations, the injured can turn to legal professionals for help assessing their options and seeking compensation to cover all of their losses.
How to Learn More About the 2015 Philadelphia Amtrak Derailment
Since this tragic incident occurred in 2015, there have been a number of reports and articles written about the derailment. Those interested in learning more about this unfortunate event can refer to the following resources:
- CNN article on the engineer involved in the incident
- Account from a survivor of the train derailment
- ABC News article on the investigation of the Amtrak derailment scene
- New York Times article on why the Amtrak train derailed
These trusted news sources can give you the information you need to understand the facts surrounding the 2015 Philadelphia Amtrak derailment.
We Will Continue to Represent Those Harmed in Transportation Accidents
Our team at the Morelli Law Firm helped secure the $265 million settlement for the 2015 Philadelphia Amtrak derailment. We can use our experience handling train accident claims and complicated MDL to assist clients hurt in similar catastrophes.
You can learn more by reaching out to a skilled attorney from our team. We provide a risk-free consultation and stand by, ready to answer all your questions. Call or complete our online contact form to learn more.
