DC Metro Crash: What Happened & What Remedies Do Injured Victims Have?
The recent D.C. Metro crash was a horrific event as pictures of the two trains that collided show. At this point, nine deaths have been reported as well as scores of injuries. So, what happened and what remedies do injured victims or their surviving family members have?
Red line train tragedy
The recent District of Columbia Metrorail crash between two trains on the Red line is still being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Early accounts of its investigation are placing the blame on system errors and possibly operator error. Here's what's being said about both:
System error. Although the D.C. Metro supposedly has a fail safe computerized signal system that detects how far trains are from one another and will automatically apply the brakes, that didn't happen. However, the NTSB and others, have been very critical about the aging Metro system's safety features in the past few years, but little has been done to update those features.
Operator error. Similar to last year's Metrolink train crash in Los Angeles, negligent operator error is also being blamed for the accident possibly due to cell phone use. Although that hasn't yet been determined, it does seem to be a problem with drivers. In a recent Washington Post online news conference with Peter Goelz, the former managing director of the NTSB, a participant says that she's seen train drivers texting, using cell phones and reading the paper:
- Participant: ... I ride from Grosvenor to King Street 4 days a week and I routinely see drivers texting, talking on cell phones, reading the paper and talking to other Metro personnel. I reported this once to Metro with specific info on time, train, etc., and only got a blow-off e-mail. This is a serious problem in Metro regardless of whether or not it contributed to yesterday's crash.
- Peter Goelz: You are exactly right. These kinds of distractions have been ignored by transit operators. Putting aside this accident, as we don't know what has happened, I am sure it will be looked at.
Remedies for injured victims
Since the train crash happened just inside the District of Columbia, that law and not Maryland law is likely to apply to personal injury cases stemming from the accident. Luckily, there are no caps on damages for pain and suffering, also known as non-economic damages, in D.C. Horrific situations such as this one are likely to cause pain and suffering to those victims who were not physically, but emotionally, injured.
If you were a victim of the train crash and want to speak with a lawyer, click here.
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