Arcadia Train Accident Attorneys

While most people rarely take the train, thousands of commuters still rely on California’s railways to get around. Swapping the car for a carriage can help you sidestep gridlock traffic and reckless drivers, but even on the tracks you still run the risk of an accident. When a train derails or crashes, the consequences can be devastating with some victims sustaining life-threatening injuries. If you were seriously hurt as a passenger, pedestrian, or motorist, turn to our Arcadia train accident attorneys for legal advice.  At HPIL, we can work closely with you, your medical providers, and expert witnesses to estimate the value of your damages and prepare your case for settlement negotiations or litigation. We are proud to have won more than $300 million in settlements and court ruling for our clients. To find out more about our legal services, dial 1-800-GO-HARRIS. Our team is available 24/7 to take your calls.

How Long Will It Take to Resolve My Train Accident Claim?

As your expenses keep adding up, you may be eager to get your hands on a settlement so that you can alleviate this immense financial burden. However, rushing into negotiations and accepting the insurer’s first offer could be a mistake that sets you back in the long run. You may have overlooked certain costs, leaving you to foot the bill when your financial award runs dry. Below are a few more factors that could affect the timeframe of your claim: 

• Maximum Medical Improvement: The road to recovery isn’t a straight line from A to B—more often than not, there will be a few detours along the way. From unanticipated procedures to unexpected health complications, it’s difficult to gauge how much your treatment will cost until you’ve achieved maximum medical improvement. This is the point in your recovery where your injuries have healed, or your condition is unlikely to improve any further. At this stage, you will have a better idea of the full costs involved with treating and accommodating your condition.

• Strength of the Available Evidence: Are there other passengers who can corroborate your version of events? Were you able to gather any evidence at the scene? Did anyone record footage of the accident? The stronger the evidence you have at your disposal, the less likely you will be to encounter delays and disputes during the claims process. Our attorneys can conduct a thorough investigation into the accident and help gather the necessary evidence to prove liability and damages. If a party, such as the railway company, is withholding crucial evidence, our attorneys can help apply legal pressure to obtain this evidence before it becomes unavailable.

• The Amount You Are Seeking: Insurance companies are out to make a profit, which means they will be reluctant to pay out a settlement—especially if you are pursuing a significant sum. As such, the greater the value of the potential recovery in your case, the more likely you may be to face disputes.

• The Number of Liability Parties: If there are multiple liable parties in your case, you should expect to encounter disputes. It’s not uncommon for parties to disagree over how liability is apportioned, which could lead to delays as your attorney works to resolve these issues.

Can I Continue Using Social Media While My Train Accident Claim Is Pending?

For most of us, social media has become a pillar of our lives. As of last year, it’s estimated that almost half of the world’s population is registered on at least one social media platform. Whether it’s to keep in touch with friends or expand your professional networks, sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn have become places where you can stay connected wherever you are. Social media has become a space to share life’s highlights, so it only makes sense if this is your first pitstop after a serious accident. After all, discussing this traumatic event with those closest to you can feel like a form of therapy, giving you access to a near-instant support network with just the tap of your finger. Before posting about the accident, however, you should think through the potential consequences your social media activity could have. If you’re planning to file a personal injury claim, these posts could be used as evidence to dispute or deny your claim. The insurance company’s ultimate goal is often to minimize the amount they pay out. Claims adjusters will use a variety of different strategies to protect their employer’s bottom line. One tactic may involve monitoring social media feeds to dig up any posts that could be leveraged to challenge a claimant’s credibility or dispute other evidence. With that in mind, here are a few ways you can safeguard your claim next time you’re online:

• Ramp up Your Privacy Settings: By default, many social media accounts are set to “public”, giving anyone—including the claims adjuster—the ability to read through your posts at their own leisure. By switching to “private”, you can restrict access to only those in your circles, giving you an added layer of protection against these cyber sleuths.

• Do Not Accept Friend Requests from Strangers: If, for example, you are trying to expand your professional networks, you may have developed a habit of accepting every new connection request that comes your way. After all, that next invite could be a job opportunity or the start of a fruitful business venture. However, while your claim is pending, it’s best to ignore or reject these unsolicited invitations. It’s possible that an opposing party may be sending you a connection request in an attempt to gain access to posts on your private social media account.

• Avoid Posting About the Accident: The written word is easy to manipulate, and even easier to misrepresent. Posting about the accident could be the emotional release you need after this traumatic event, but all it takes is one sentence—taken out of context—to challenge your credibility and bring your personal injury case crashing down. As such, you should avoid posting about the accident, your injuries, your recovery, plans for your personal injury claim, property damage and other losses, your social life, or the expenses you’ve incurred due to the collision.

• Never “Check in”: Whether you “check in” at the local diner or your favorite park, these online location broadcasts could sink your claim. Unfortunately, leaving your home for any reason other than attending follow-ups could give opposing parties a reason to dispute the severity of your injuries and the effect they’ve had on your quality of life.

Connect with a Train Accident Attorney in Arcadia Today

If you would like to discuss your train accident claim with an attorney, turn to the legal team at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers. To schedule a free consultation, visit our online contact form HERE or call us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS.