Baldwin Park Train Accident Attorneys

While taking the train is not as popular as it once was, many Californians still rely on the state’s railways to get around. Convenient, affordable, and relatively safe, life in the carriage can be an antidote to the area’s gridlocked highways and bustling intersections. However, trains can and do still cause accidents. Victims of these collisions often sustain severe injuries and run up a terrifying tally of medical expenses and other losses. If you were hurt on the rails, turn to our Baldwin Park train accident attorneys to discuss how you could recover compensation for your damages.  Whether the train was owned and run by a government entity or a private railway company, going up against these parties alone can be a daunting prospect. However, hiring a skilled personal injury lawyer could help level the playing field. At HPIL, we have decades of collective experience representing train accident victims, arming us with the knowledge to assist at every stage of proceedings. Call us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS to find out more.  

What Should I Bring to the Initial Consultation?

Once you’ve scheduled a consultation with one of our train accident attorneys, you may be wondering how to prepare for this meeting. Let’s examine some of the items your attorney may want to see during your free case review:

• Written Description of the Accident: A train wreck can be a harrowing experience to say the least. While locomotives are rarely involved in accidents, when a carriage runs off the rails or collides with a stationary vehicle, the consequences can be deadly. While images of this traumatic event may still be burnt into your mind, even these memories will fade over time. As such, you should take notes on what you can remember about the accident so that you don’t later overlook important details that could help prove your case. What happened in the moments before and after the accident? Were there any other passengers onboard? What did representatives from the railway company say in the immediate aftermath? Did police arrive at the scene? Did you notice any surveillance cameras near the accident scene that may have captured footage of the collision? The answers to these questions could help your attorney identify important evidence that could prove liability and causation.

• Medical Documents: After an accident, you should always visit the doctor for a comprehensive medical assessment. He or she will usually create medical records documenting your injuries and the care you might require. Your medical records can help your train wreck lawyer prove damages such as your medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other losses. However, if you have not yet obtained copies of your medical records, your lawyer will take steps to procure any outstanding documents on your behalf.

• Personal Injury Journal: Suffering a serious injury in a train accident can affect you in a number of ways, such as keeping you from work, preventing you from enjoying your favorite past times, and causing immense pain and suffering. In California, injury victims have a legal right to seek compensation for the intangible effects of their injuries. However, proving such damages isn’t as simple as glancing at an invoice or receipt. Your attorney may have to use a wide variety of evidence to demonstrate your non-economic damages. One crucial piece of evidence might be your personal injury journal. This diary is a place for you to track your pain levels, describe your limitations, and note the symptoms of your injuries. Ultimately, a personal injury journal can help paint a clear picture of how your injuries have affected your lifestyle.

• Financial Documents: In order to obtain a settlement or verdict, you will need to prove the damages you incurred. As such, you should compile any receipts, invoices, estimates, and bills related to the accident, treatment, replacement services, lost wages, and home modifications.

Common Types of Damages in a Train Accident Case

A serious train wreck can have a significant financial impact, burdening you with thousands of dollars in medical expenses and forcing you to take time off work to let your injuries heal. However, these losses could be just the tip of the iceberg. Injuries often lead to immense pain, suffering, and emotional distress; a potent cocktail of psychological issues that can drastically degrade your quality of life. Before proceeding with your claim, you will need to ensure that you’ve accounted for all recoverable losses. At HPIL, our legal team can assess your situation, investigate the accident, and help identify the damages that may be owed to you and your family. Let’s take a look at the three main categories of damages claimants can pursue: 

• Economic Damages: This category covers costs you’ve incurred as a direct result of the accident and your injuries. Economic damages can encompass a wide range of expenses such as repair costs, medical bills, lost wages, replacement services, and home modifications.

• Non-Economic Damages: Sustaining a serious injury can leave behind many invisible scars, from suffering intense pain and suffering to developing depression and experiencing anxiety. While the psychological side-effects of the accident are difficult to quantify, you have a legal right to seek compensation for the mental anguish you’ve experienced in the wake of the accident. A skilled personal injury attorney may use a wide variety of evidence to prove such damages, including psychiatric reports, expert witness testimony, and your personal injury journal.

• Punitive Damages: As mentioned above, economic and non-economic damages are designated to reimburse the injury victim for what they’ve lost as a result of the accident. Unlike these two categories, punitive damages exist to penalize the liable parties to dissuade others from committing similar acts.

Find a Train Accident Attorney in Baldwin Park Today

Whether you need help filing your claim, negotiating a settlement, or preparing your case for trial, HPIL is here to help. We can investigate the accident, assist in gathering the necessary evidence to prove liability and damages, and provide tenacious representation throughout proceedings. Reach us at 1-800-GO-HARRIS or tab through to our contact form HERE to arrange a meeting with one of our attorneys