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If you or a loved one were injured on a subway, the Washington, DC Metro accident lawyers of Regan Zambri Long are here to help you. A Metro accident can turn your life upside down in an instant. Whether you were hurt in a train collision, fell on a station platform, or were injured on a malfunctioning escalator, you’re probably dealing with pain, medical bills, and worry about what comes next. You shouldn’t have to face this alone. Metro accident cases are complicated – they involve government agencies, strict deadlines, and insurance companies that don’t want to pay fair compensation. That’s where our DC Metro accident lawyers come in.
If you get into an accident while riding the Metro, call our Washington, DC Metro accident lawyers immediately to get the compensation needed for your injuries. Our accident attorneys at Regan Zambri Long have taken 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 over 75 subway accident cases, recovering tens of millions of dollars in damages for victims.
Time matters in these cases, so don’t wait. Call us today for a free consultation. We’ll listen to your story, explain your options, and fight for the justice you deserve. You won’t pay us anything unless we win your case.
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Approximately 600,000 people use the Washington, DC, subway system daily. 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 lawyers will listen to your train accident claim compassionately and provide you with the best legal option to get you the 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 filing time. Therefore, contact our DC Metro accident lawyers immediately if a Metro train accident harms you or a loved one.
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.
If you or a loved one were injured on the DC Metrorail, call Regan Zambri Long for a no-obligation, free case evaluation.
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 during 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 on these trains.
Unfortunately, poorly maintained equipment can cause a deadly crash, as in the 2009 crash, when it was discovered that faulty equipment contributed to the accident.
es, 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 must file a notice of an injury claim with the Washington, DC Office of Risk Management. The office must 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 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. You will receive a notice once the investigation is complete, 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. You will receive your settlement within 45 days if a settlement is reached.
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.
Figuring 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 one percent liable for the accident, they cannot 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 in your claim.
That’s why speaking with an experienced Washington, DC, personal injury lawyer immediately after an accident on the DC Metro is important. We will investigate your claim and determine who should be held accountable for your injuries.
Depending on the severity of your train accident injuries and whether your case will go 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 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.
If you or a loved one is injured in a Metro or other train accident, you may be able to hold WMATA accountable for your medical expenses and other 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.
Our Washington, DC Metro accident lawyers work on a contingency basis. 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.
DC Metro accidents can cause a range of injuries, from minor cuts and bruises to serious harm such as broken bones, head or brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and internal injuries. Passengers may also suffer emotional trauma, which can be just as debilitating as physical injuries.
If you’re hurt while riding the DC Metro, immediately seek medical attention and report the incident to WMATA. Document your injuries, collect witness information, and contact an attorney experienced in transit accident claims. You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
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 multimillion-dollar results for our Metro injury clients, Regan Zambri Long can get maximum compensation for your claim.
Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.