Over 200 passengers were injured and eight were killed when an Amtrak train headed for New York from Washington D.C. on May 12, 2015 derailed in Philadelphia, overturning six of the seven cars. Eight passengers were killed and six were taken to nearby hospitals in critical condition.
The majority of those injured were fortunate enough to escape from the twisted wreckage with only minor physical injuries; however, survivors and family members alike may be faced with untold psychological and emotional repercussions for years to come.
As Amtrak seeks answers regarding the derailment, survivors of the tragic rail accident are taking legal action to resolve questions of their own, such as, “How can I afford such overwhelming medical expenses and other economic losses as a result of the crash?”
According to a Congressional law passed in 1997, injured passengers and survivors could only hope to obtain a maximum $200 million in damages following a single rail accident.
“I think it’s absolutely unfair to have railway companies — who have the responsibility of ensuring the safety of so many passengers, and given the dangers inherent in traveling at the speed they do — to have their liability limited,” said personal injury attorney Philip Russotti of Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP. The New York firm has represented several injured victims in recent train accident cases and is said to have meetings scheduled with two of the Philadelphia train crash victims regarding head injuries sustained in the accident.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board say that an object may have struck the trains’ windshield just moments before the train jumped the tracks at an excessive speed of 100 mph. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been called in to help determine the exact cause of the collision.
If you or someone you care about has been involved in a train crash, you are legally entitled to seek financial compensation for the medical costs, lost wages, and other damages related to the accident. To obtain the full and fair reimbursement you deserve, contact Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro, Moses & Halperin, LLP to discuss your options and rights. Call (212) 986-7353 for a free, comprehensive case evaluation.