A series of DC Metro subway accidents in the past year, including a subway derailment in downtown D.C. in early January that put 20 people in the hospital and left 60 people stranded in a tunnel, is causing federal safety officials to examine the country’s second busiest urban rail system.
In another Metro-related accident last year, two track workers were killed after being hit by a train. Two workers were also struck and killed by trains in May 2006 and October 2005. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the latest three accidents.
The DC Metro system, which began operating over 30 years ago, has close to 1,000 rail cars that travel through a more than 100-mile route, taking almost 700,000 people to jobs, their homes, meetings, and tourist sites.
Because of the recent accidental deaths among train workers, track workers are now only allowed to inspect the metro rails between 10 a.m. and 3.pm., when fewer trains are running. Trains are also being ordered to slow down to under 20mph as they approach track workers and cannot pass them unless the workers give them the signal to do so.
Some causes of train-related deaths and injuries:
· Train derailments
· Train crashes
· Faulty equipment
· Walking too close to the train tracks
· Work-related errors
Examples of train injuries: burn injuries, internal injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones, brain injuries, and other injuries that are associated with motor vehicle-related accidents.
The personal injury law firm of Lebowitz and Mzhen represents clients who have been injured in accidents due to someone else’s negligence. We represent clients injured in motor vehicle accidents, boating accidents, products liability cases, medical malpractice cases, and other types of personal injury cases.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an accident, contact Lebowitz and Mzhen. We represent clients in Maryland and throughout the Washington D.C. area. Contact Lebowitz and Mzhen to schedule a free, no obligation consultation.
Recent accidents spotlight Washington’s aging Metro, Hometown Annapolis.com, January 23, 2007
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