When we climb aboard a train—whether it’s to commute to work or travel somewhere for fun—we expect that our safety will be taken seriously and that we’ll get to our destination without incident. Unfortunately, train accidents do occur occasionally and can be serious.
Train accidents are rare, but when trains derail or collide—or if you get injured on a station platform while getting on or off a train—victims can incur anything from minor injuries to brain damage.
Trains can get into accidents for a variety of reasons, from mechanical failure to operator failure to maintenance failure. It’s crucial that trains be inspected routinely to ensure there are no defects and that the train can be safely operated with passengers aboard. Operators should also be attentive—not driving too fast or distracted—and should not be under the influence of substances when they drive the train. If after a crash investigation it’s found that the operator or the transportation company was negligible, victims of a train accident may be entitled to compensation to pay for their medical care and/or any lost wages due to injuries.
Here’s what to do when you or a loved one is in a train accident.
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY
If you’ve been in a train accident, it’s important to go seek medical attention immediately, even if you don’t immediately show any symptoms of an injury. It’s possible for injuries to take up to hours or even several days to appear, so it’s best to get thoroughly checked by medical staff just in case.
When you receive any diagnosis from your doctor on injuries you incurred from the train accident, be sure to get a copy of your medical records if you plan to pursue a lawsuit.
HIRE LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR YOUR TRAIN ACCIDENT INJURIES
If you or a loved one has been injured in a train accident, you should seriously consider hiring legal representation who is equipped to handle personal injury cases with the care and attention that they deserve. Because train accidents are rare, they often have long investigations and a barrage of media attention, which can be stressful for victims. You’ll need someone by your side who has experience investigating accidents of this nature because you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, medication, and/or lost wages.
When you need a personal injury lawyer for train accidents in Georgia, give the Fry | Goehring a call at (404) 948-3571 for more information.
