Metrolink Accident in Chatsworth  

The Associated Press reported that federal officials investigating the rail collision that has killed 26 people and injured over 130 others, may have been caused by an engineer sending a text message.

September 15th, Orange County, CA

Managing Partner, Ramon Lopez, of Lopez McHugh states:

"Last Friday's incomprehensible Metrolink tragedy was the result of a company saving money by not investing into state-of-the-art safety systems which would have prevented this deadly head-on collision.  Millions of dollars were spent to improve ticket vending machines and offer parking in order to fill the trains with riders and leave no seat empty. Tragically, 26 people lost their lives due to the lack of advanced warning systems that would have prevented the deadly incident in the event of human error. Human error is currently being investigated in the form of an engineer text messaging while he was responsible for the hundreds of commuters on board.  In 2007 Metrolink's co-operator, Veolia Transportation, generated revenues in excess of $6 billion, but neither organization chose to invest in safety systems.  This is unacceptable.  My team and I personally intend to represent our clients and their families, and to hold (Metrolink) accountable to the highest extent of the law."

Read the biography of Ramon Rossi Lopez

Contact the law firm of Lopez McHugh by calling 877-737-8525, or through the contact form on the right.

Information about the Metrolink accident:

Twenty-six people were killed and approximately 130 more were injured when a Metrolink commuter train crashed head-on into a freight train outside of Los Angeles on September 12, 2008. The crash may have been preventable, as preliminary investigations are revealing that the Metrolink conductor failed to stop at a red signal. Even more devastating is the fact that the conductor’s failure to stop could have been due to him being distractied while text messaging.

Did Texting Cause the Crash?
Trains are required to obey signals just like vehicles on the road, since the tracks are traveled by trains going in opposite directions. Conductors are forbidden from using cell phones and other electronic devices during their shifts because they present a dangerous distraction. In the deadly Sept. 12 crash, it appears as though such a distraction was a likely cause of the accident. Below is what early reports have uncovered about the train crash:

    • The Metrolink commuter train was traveling at 42 mph when it crashed into the freight 

       train at 4:30 pm in Chatsworth, just northwest of Los Angeles.

    • 220 passengers were aboard the Metrolink train at the time of the crash, and 26 of

       them suffered fatal injuries.

    • A Metrolink spokeswoman on Saturday attributed the crash to “human error,” admitting

      that the company’s conductor failed to heed the red signal. 
    
    • The National Transportation Safety Board agreed that human error caused the

       accident and announced on Sunday that investigators were looking into reports that

       the conductor was text messaging two teens just prior to the train accident. 
   

    • Most of the deaths were suffered by passengers in the first car behind the locomotive.

Legal Help for Train Crash Victims
Victims of the Metrolink train crash, including those who were injured and those who lost loved ones, may be entitled to compensation from the responsible parties. A train accident attorney can help victims recover for:

    • Hospital costs and additional medical expenses
    • Permanent disability
    • Loss of earning capacity
    • Pain and suffering

In cases involving fatalities, families may be eligible for additional damages including funeral/burial costs, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support.

The legal team at Lopez McHugh has extensive experience handling train accident cases and a track record of successful case resolutions.  Contact Lopez McHugh now to speak with an attorney.