Train Accident

As Tucson wrongful death lawyers, it always saddens us to see reports of people being killed in accidents. Recently it has been reported by ABC 15, that a fatal Tucson train accident took place at the North 7th Avenue crossing around 2 a.m. early Sunday morning. According to witness accounts, a vehicle carrying three people was stuck on the tracks and as the train approached, two got out safely while the 23-year-old driver did not make it in time and was fatally struck. The woman was rushed to a Tucson hospital where she was later pronounced dead. No one on the train was reportedly hurt in the incident. Police suspect alcohol may be a factor in the fatal Tucson car wreck. Regardless of the circumstances, our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the driver.

Tucson Fatal Accident Statistics

According to reports by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), there have been a total of 51 fatal car accidents in Tucson in 2010. These crashes have resulted in 54 deaths, 18 of which were identified as alcohol related.

Tucson DUI Laws

On a first offense, a person found guilty of DUI in Tucson is required to pay fees and fines, face jail time and license suspension, and may be required to use an Ignition Interlock Device. Punitive actions increase depending on the severity of the violation and the number of times the person has been charged with DUI.

Contact a Tucson Wrongful Death Lawyer

If you have recently lost a loved one because of a tragic accident, it is important that you contact a skilled Tucson train accident lawyer to assist you accordingly. Reputable Tucson train accident lawyers will discuss your case in a free consultation and brief you with the appropriate steps to do next. Train accidents are very different compared to most other accidents. Even if the driver had some alcohol in her system, she still may not be responsible for the accident. Winning a wrongful death lawsuit will help pay for expenses such as medical bills and funeral costs. More importantly, it will hold the at-fault party accountable for the tragic incident. For a free consultation with Breyer Law Offices, P.C. call 520-308-6762.

Last month, Transportation for America, a national group that focuses on aligning national, state, and local transportation policies revealed that the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metropolitan area is the eighth deadliest area for pedestrians out of 52 metropolitan areas. This ranking was based on a nine-year period.

According to Transportation for America, the Phoenix metro area had an average of 2.3 deaths per 100,000 people with a total of 867 pedestrian deaths. Although Phoenix officials disagree with the numbers, Metro Light Rail has, nonetheless, launched a campaign urging riders not to run for the train. The agency believes that it is necessary to promote pedestrian and passenger safety, and to help minimize accidents caused by jaywalking.

Pedestrians should always be alert and cautious at intersections as well as bus stops and train platforms. At night, it is important to increase visibility by wearing retro-reflective clothing.

If you or a loved one has been the victim of a train accident in Arizona and would like to seek compensation, the experienced Phoenix train accident lawyers at Breyer Law Offices, P.C., may be able to help. Contact us today at 602-457-6222 for a no-cost consultation.

In the United States, there are about 500 trains that travel on thousands of miles of railroad track. However, while there has been much advancement in technology in other industries, the railroad industry remains relatively the same as it was a hundred years ago, making the technology used by the railroad industry old and outdated, and therefore prone to train accidents.

There are many factors that can result in a train accident in Arizona. For instance, a train could experience electrical or mechanical failure, problems with maintenance, train operator error because of communication, or signal error. Additionally, if a train has structural defects or if the train tracks are old or improperly maintained, this could cause the train to derail or crash.

Because of a train’s massive size and weight, injuries that are sustained in Arizona train accidents can be serious and are sometimes fatal, regardless of whether an accident victim is on the train, in a motor vehicle, or on foot as a pedestrian. Common injuries from a train accident in Arizona include brain injuries, fractured or broken bones, spinal cord injuries, and paralysis.

If someone is injured in an Arizona train crash, compensation may be available to them if it is determined there was negligence on the part of the train operator, the train company, a mechanic for the train, or anyone else associated with the operation of the train that resulted in an injury-causing accident. Damages could include coverage for medical expenses, hospital bills, loss of present or future wages, pain and suffering, and more. If a victim of an Arizona train accident dies, in some instances, the victim’s family may file a wrongful death lawsuit. In those cases, damages may include coverage for funeral costs, loss of companionship, mental anguish, and more.

At The Breyer Law Offices P.C., our Arizona train accident attorneys understand the complexities of train accident cases and have many years of experience in train accident litigation. Our lawyers will work hard to make sure you obtain fair compensation for your injuries that were sustained in an Arizona train accident and hold negligent parties accountable for the accident. Call our law office today at 480-753-4534 to learn about your legal options in pursuing a train accident lawsuit in Arizona. We offer free consultations.

Due to Arizona train accidents being on the rise as of late, railroad officials have made their move to stop this trend. Just this year alone from January to September, railroad fatalities have risen to five while 12 victims were seriously injured. These are significantly higher numbers than from 2009 when only two deaths and three injuries were reported in the same time frame (ABC 15 12/14/2010).

With the combined efforts of Arizona Operation Lifesaver and Union Pacific, community officials, law enforcement, and railroad leaders were invited to witness for themselves the fatal accidents that may occur anytime on the railway by bringing the Union Pacific Safety Train to Tempe. On a trip to Gilbert, driver and commuter mistakes were pointed out that could cause safety issues. This is for the purpose of increasing safety awareness and to urge the authorities to increase citations to those who break railroad laws.

The rising number of railroad accidents is not only for Arizona, but for the rest of the country as well. The Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis has released alarming data showing railroad accidents, excluding highway-rail, reaching more than 1,800 in 2009. This shows that a lot of work needs to be done to address railway safety concerns.

If you or a loved one were a victim of a railroad accident and are looking for some answers, drop us a call at (480) 753-4534 for your free consultation. Being one of the leading Arizona accident law firms, we may be able to assist you.

Since the opening of Phoenix’s new $1.4 billion light rail system connecting Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe in December 2008, there have been several Phoenix train-auto collisions. These crashes have caused injuries to car drivers and its passengers as well as among light rail riders. Some victims of Arizona railway accidents have suffered terrible injuries, such brain and spinal cord injuries due to the impact of the accident.

Not only cars are involved in collisions with the light rail transit. Around 3:15 p.m. of Monday, November 29, 2010, a pedestrian was struck by a light-rail train in uptown Phoenix (Associated Press via AZ Central 11/29/10). The impact was so immense that the victim was pushed 40 feet down the tracks. The man was sent to St. Joseph Hospital. He suffered a head injury and is in critical condition. According to witnesses, the man still continued running towards the platform despite of the warning coming from the train’s horn.

Some drivers who involved in light-rail accidents say that the cause of the accident was because they are not used to having trains on the roads that were once utilized by cars, motorcyclists, and pedestrians alone. On the other hand, police reports show that car drivers are not always the major cause of accidents involving light-rail trains. Sometimes, light-rail accidents could be because of the negligence on the part of the train operators.

If you have been a victim of an Arizona light-rail accident and are in need of assistance, please contact Breyer Law Offices to speak with one of our Phoenix train accident attorneys. Call us today for a free consultation at (480) 753-4534. We are experienced in fighting for all the compensation you deserve.

As experienced Phoenix personal injury lawyers we know that there are far too many railroad accidents in Arizona. It is often because of dangerous railroad crossings that such accidents occur, and government at all levels should seek to lessen their risk. Whenever someone drives through the Phoenix metro area near Grand Avenue, they should not have to fear for their lives.

A recent report reveal that three intersections along Grand Avenue, including 35th Avenue, Thomas Road, and 27th Avenue, where trains cross have been the sites of over 30 accidents between trains and cars over the past three years. The Federal Railroad Administration has noted this, and officials are seeking solutions as to what must be done to prevent accidents and to make these crossings safer.

While some people question the value of personal injury lawyers in our society, they can help make these crossings safer. Sometimes it takes the threat of the government losing money before something is actually done. When there have been so many auto accidents in Arizona at these three intersections in Phoenix, the fault is not simply the drivers, but also the design of the railway crossings.

Those who have been involved in a wreck with a train have responsibility to seek legal counsel. Even if the train was not at fault, it may be that place where the road crosses the tracks was badly designed.

If you or anybody you know has been involved in a serious crash with a train in Arizona, it may be in your best interest to speak to a skilled Arizona personal injury attorney. Your case may require a full investigation and require an attorney to take every step possible in helping your family and the person who has been wrongly affected by the train crash. These efforts also allow for a complete study of that particular intersection to see if it was inherently dangerous and if serious accidents between cars and trains were inevitable based upon the design and the signage available.

Anyone who happens to be involved in a serious train crash is strongly encouraged to speak to a personal injury lawyer. If it turns out that the railroad crossing’s design was responsible for the accident and was inherently dangerous, filing a personal injury or wrongful death suit against the responsible parties may force the hand of the government to make the crossing safer for everybody.