Train Accident
Whether you've been injured in an accident, are dealing with a personal injury claim, or facing another legal issue, Mendez & Sanchez APC is here to fight for you. We handle a wide range of cases and focus on one thing—getting results. Our goal is to win the maximum compensation you deserve and help you get the justice you're owed in California or Nevada. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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Train accidents cause hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries every year in the United States. The vast majority of these tragedies are entirely preventable. If you or a member of your family was severely injured in a train wreck involving Amtrak, Metrolink, Caltrain, or another rail system, turn to the California train accident attorneys at our East Los Angeles office for legal guidance.
Our train accident lawyers will answer your questions and explain the steps you should take to give your claim the best chance of resulting in a fair settlement. Our law firm is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can come to you if you cannot come to us. Call 323-838-1444 to schedule a free case evaluation.
Types of Cases Our Train Accident Attorneys Handle:
Our lawyers have many decades of combined experience representing victims of personal injury and wrongful death throughout California. Over that time, we have helped our clients recover millions of dollars in monetary awards.
We handle a variety of train accident claims including those arising from:
- Train accidents involving passenger vehicles;
- Train derailment accidents;
- Train accidents involving pedestrians;
- Train accidents due to equipment malfunctions;
- Accidents involving multiple trains; and
- Train accidents resulting in wrongful death.
What Damages Might Be Recoverable in Train Accident Cases?
Train wrecks often occur at high speeds and result in devastating injuries. Healthcare expenses and lost income can add up quickly, threatening the financial security of victims and their families.
If your crash was caused by the negligence of another person or entity, you may be able to recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity. These are called “economic damages.” You may also be able to recover “non-economic damages,” which include disability and disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, pain, and suffering, and loss of consortium.
Who Can I Sue After a Train Accident?
Proving liability is an essential component of any personal injury or wrongful death case. Your claim will not be successful unless it can be shown that the at-fault party (or parties) owed you a duty of care, breached that duty of care and this breach of duty caused your injury or loss.
A duty of care can be breached through an intentional act or a negligent act. The latter is more common in train wreck cases since the liable party typically did not intend to cause the accident.
The parties against whom you bring your claim will depend on the specific cause of your crash. For example:
- Companies that own or operate trains may be liable for damages if they failed to maintain their rail cars, trains, and equipment. They may also be held liable if they hired employees who lacked the necessary qualifications or if they did not provide appropriate training or supervision to their employees.
- Companies that manufacture train parts may be held liable if a manufacturing defect contributed to the wreck.
- Drivers of other vehicles can be held liable if they left their vehicle on the track, resulting in an accident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can be held liable after a train accident in California?
Liability in a California train accident can fall on multiple parties depending on what caused the crash. The train operating company — such as Amtrak, Metrolink, or Caltrain — may be liable if they failed to maintain equipment or negligently hired or trained employees; a parts manufacturer may be liable if a defective component contributed to the wreck; and a driver who left a vehicle on the tracks can also be held responsible. Under California negligence law, any party whose breach of duty caused your injury may owe you compensation, and an experienced train accident attorney can investigate all potential defendants to maximize your recovery.
How long do I have to file a train accident lawsuit in California?
In most California train accident cases, you have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. However, if the negligent party is a government agency — such as a publicly operated rail system like Metrolink or a city-run transit authority — you must file a government tort claim within just six months of the incident under the California Government Claims Act (Gov. Code § 911.2) before you can sue. Missing either of these deadlines can permanently bar your right to compensation, so it is critical to contact a train accident attorney as soon as possible after your crash.
What kind of compensation can I recover after being injured on a train in California?
California personal injury law allows train accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, future medical care, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity — costs that can quickly reach hundreds of thousands of dollars after a serious train wreck. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, permanent disability or disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium for affected family members under California Civil Code § 1431.2. In cases involving egregious misconduct, punitive damages may also be available to punish the at-fault party.
What should I do first after a train accident to protect my legal claim?
The most important steps after a train accident are seeking immediate medical attention — even if you feel okay, since injuries like traumatic brain trauma or internal bleeding may not show symptoms right away — and preserving as much evidence as possible. Take photographs of the scene, your injuries, and any visible damage; collect the names and contact information of witnesses; and request copies of any incident reports filed by the rail company. Avoid giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters or signing any documents before consulting a California train accident attorney, as early statements can be used to minimize your compensation.
Does it cost money to hire a train accident lawyer in California?
No — at Mendez & Sanchez, we represent train accident victims on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay absolutely nothing upfront and owe us no attorney fees unless we win your case. This arrangement ensures that every injured person, regardless of their financial situation, has access to experienced legal representation. You can call us at 323-838-1444 any time — we are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — to schedule a completely free case evaluation, and we can come to you if your injuries prevent you from traveling to our East Los Angeles office.
Can I still recover compensation if I was partly at fault for the train accident?
Yes, in most situations you can still recover compensation even if you share some responsibility for the accident. California follows a 'pure comparative fault' rule under California Civil Code § 1714, which means your total compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault — but you can still recover even if you are found to be 99% at fault. For example, if your damages total $500,000 but you are found 20% at fault, you would still recover $400,000. An experienced train accident attorney can work to minimize any fault attributed to you and build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
When is it absolutely necessary to hire a lawyer after a train accident versus handling it myself?
While minor incidents sometimes resolve without legal help, you should strongly consider hiring a lawyer any time a train accident results in serious injury, permanent disability, wrongful death, or when a government-operated rail system is involved — because these cases carry strict procedural deadlines and require expert navigation of complex liability rules. Rail companies and their insurers have dedicated legal teams whose sole goal is to minimize payouts, and studies consistently show that represented claimants recover significantly more compensation than those who negotiate alone. At Mendez & Sanchez, we have helped clients across California recover millions of dollars in train accident cases, and a free consultation costs you nothing but could make an enormous difference in the outcome of your claim.