Washington DC Injury Lawyer Blog
The family of Cameron Williams, one of the nine people killed in the June 22 Red Line train accident that is being called the worst wreck in the Metro’s history, has filed a Washington DC wrongful death lawsuit for $25 million. Their DC train crash complaint is accusing Metro of negligence and of failing to take the reasonable precautions to prevent the crash from happening.
Williams’s family is also suing Alstom Signaling Company, which is responsible for the circuit that failed to slow or stop the train so that the deadly collision wouldn’t happen. Depending on the National Transportation Safety Board’s findings once it concludes its crash probe, other defendants may be added to the DC train accident lawsuit.
The deadly collision occurred during rush hour close to the Fort Totten stop when one train crashed on top of another train. At least seventy people were transported to local hospitals.
Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that records indicate that the safety system that is supposed to help subway trains avoid becoming involved in collisions had malfunctioned just months before the June accident. On March 2, a train operator activated the emergency brakes to avoid colliding with another train after there was a problem with the Automatic Train Protection system. A failed component system on the train was identified as the issue. The NTSB is investigating the track circuit as part of its efforts to find out what caused the deadly June train accident.
Possible Causes of Washington DC Train Accidents:
• Operator negligence
• Mechanical failure
• Inadequate maintenance
• Conductor error
• Inadequate training
• Collision with another train, a motor vehicle, or a pedestrian
• Obstructions at rail crossings that prevent the operator from seeing
• Defective railroad crossing warning systems
• Defective train parts
Metro Crash Victim’s Family Files Suit, My Fox DC, August 25, 2009
Records: DC Metro safety system failed before, AP/Google, August 9, 2009
Washington, DC Metro Crash: 9 Confirmed Dead, Worst Metro Crash Ever, Air America, June 22, 2009
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