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The Washington, DC Metro accident attorneys at Regan Zambri Long PLLC have been taking on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) in civil claims for over 35 years. Washingtonian Magazine calls founding partner Patrick Regan “the Washington lawyer you call when you want to sue WMATA.” He has handled more than 75 subway accident cases, recovering tens of millions of dollars in damages for victims. If you get into an accident while riding the Metro, call our Metro accident lawyer right away to get the compensation needed for your injuries.
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Approximately 600,000 people use the Washington, DC subway system each day. Unfortunately, this constant wear and tear, along with the age of many trains, delayed track maintenance, and other negligent acts by the WMATA, puts riders at an increased risk for serious subway accidents.
Our Washington, DC Metro accident lawyer will listen to your train accident claim with compassion and provide you with the best legal option available to get you the train accident compensation you deserve. We represented the family of Carol Glover, a woman who tragically died as a result of the January 2015 smoke incident at the L’Enfant Plaza. In addition to Ms. Glover’s family, we represent many other passengers who were seriously injured due to smoke inhalation in the L’Enfant Plaza tragedy.
In many cases, the WMATA is legally responsible for these accidents. However, filing a claim against the WMATA is not easy. Different rules apply, and you may have only a limited time to file. Therefore, if a Metro train accident harms you or a loved one, contact our DC Metro accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Additionally, Pat Regan and Sal Zambri served as lead lawyers for cases involving the 2009 train-on-train collision that occurred between two southbound Red Line Washington Metro trains in DC; this accident resulted in nine deaths and 50 severe injuries. The cases were later settled for an undisclosed amount.
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Even a seemingly minor accident in the subway may become complicated if Metro does not respond quickly and act in the best interests of public safety. Although negligence is most frequently to blame, a subway accident can result from many factors. Common causes of accidents on the Metro include:
Train operators must maintain safe speeds and coordinate routes with other workers. This includes monitoring the equipment to ensure no nearby trains may cause an accident. Unfortunately, many Metro operators are improperly trained, which makes them unable to respond appropriately in the event of a crisis.
Poorly maintained rails may cause many safety issues, including electrical accidents and derailment. For example, in the 2015 L’Enfant Plaza tragedy, electrical arcs from the rails filled stopped trains with smoke, causing one victim’s wrongful death.
In many cases, WMATA defers necessary maintenance due to a lack of funding and workers. However, these delays dramatically increase the risk of deadly accidents to innocent commuters and tourists.
Some Metro train cars have been in use since the 1970s, placing riders at a higher risk for injury during a crash. In addition, equipment malfunctions are more likely to occur because of poor or a lack of maintenance to these trains.
Unfortunately, poorly maintained equipment can cause a deadly crash, such as in the case of the 2009 crash when it was discovered that faulty equipment contributed to the accident.
Yes, you can sue the WMATA. Bringing a personal injury lawsuit against the WMATA can be extremely difficult. Not only are the statute of limitations different in each state, but the chances of getting a fair settlement on your own are unlikely. Therefore, you want a personal injury law firm that not only has the background of fighting for injury victims against the WMATA and the extensive trial experience needed to represent your interests in the courtroom.
Before a lawsuit can be filed against the WMATA, you will first need to file a notice of an injury claim with the Washington, DC Office of Risk Management. The office will need to be notified of your injury within six months of the accident. If the accident occurred in Maryland or Virginia, you have one year to file the claim with each respective government.
Once the claim is submitted, the Office of Risk Management will open a file and assign the claim to an adjuster who will investigate the accident. The adjuster will reach out to you and any other parties that may have been involved to learn more about the accident. They will also start gathering evidence about the incident. Once the investigation is complete, you will receive a notice as to whether your claim was accepted or denied. The process usually takes approximately 30 to 45 days.
If the claim is accepted, the Office of Risk Management will try to negotiate a settlement with your injury attorney. If a settlement is reached, you will receive your settlement within 45 days.
If the claim is denied, you still have the opportunity to file a civil action against the WMATA. If that is the case, your best option is to speak with an experienced Washington, DC Metro accident attorney as soon as possible.
To figure out who is responsible for your accident depends on what caused the accident. For example, you were injured in a train derailment caused by faulty equipment. You may have a personal injury claim against the manufacturer of the equipment as well as the WMATA. That’s why speaking with an experienced Washington, DC Metro accident lawyer is essential to learn your legal options.
Washington, DC, follows the contributory negligence doctrine. The law states that if the injury victim is even found 1 percent liable for the accident, they will be unable to recover compensation for their injuries. So, if you are found responsible for the accident that caused your injuries, you may not be able to recover the damages to your claim.
That’s why it’s important to speak with an experienced Washington, DC, personal injury lawyer right away after an accident on the DC Metro. We will investigate your claim and find out who should be held accountable for your injuries.
If you or a loved one sustains injuries in a Metro crash or other train accident, then you may be able to hold WMATA accountable for your medical bills and other train accident related damages. However, since this is a government agency, filing a successful train accident injury claim is often a complex process to handle by yourself.
The Metro accident lawyers from Regan Zambri Long can work with you to ensure you meet deadlines and file all the correct paperwork. Then, a train accident attorney can conduct independent inquiries so that you get an explanation. At Regan Zambri Long, we have decades of experience with these claims, so we know what to check and where to go for answers after you’ve been hit by or on a train.
Depending on the severity of your train accident injuries and whether your case will be going to trial, you could be rewarded with two types of damages — economic and non-economic.
Economic damages cover any financial losses you have experienced because of the accident. These train accident damages include medical expenses, loss of income, loss of earning capacity, and, if necessary, funeral and burial costs.
Non-economic train accident damages are meant to compensate you and your family for any non-financial losses you may have undergone. These damages include loss of consortium, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment.
Our Washington, DC Metro accident lawyers work on a contingency basis. This means when you hire Regan Zambri Long PLLC to handle your claim against the WMATA, you will not have to pay an attorney’s fee until we win your case. Once the case is settled, we will take our fee out of the final settlement. However, if we are unsuccessful, you do not owe us anything for our services.
If you were injured in a subway accident in Washington, DC, Virginia, or Maryland, our injury law firm is ready to take your case. With more than 100 years of experience and multimillion-dollar results for our injury clients, Regan Zambri Long can get you the maximum amount of compensation for your claim.
