A man suffered non-life-threatening injuries after being hit by a freight train in downtown San Diego. The accident happened near 5th Street and Harbor Drive when a BNSF train collided with a pedestrian. The incident occurred early in the morning, before 4 AM. The pedestrian was described as a 43-year-old man whose arm was severed in the accident. He was transported to UCSD Medical Center for treatment. A San Diego County Sheriff’s Department representative stated that the man was conscious and breathing when he was taken to the hospital.
Train Accidents are Often Serious
The cause of the accident has not yet been determined and is being investigated. The train accident caused a temporary shutdown of freight services in the area. Although collisions with trains are not common, they do occur from time to time. Whether in a vehicle or on foot, a victim of a train accident often suffers fatal injuries. In this accident, the man luckily escaped with his life. However, he will certainly be facing a long and difficult recovery period and his life will be changed forever.
Collisions with trains often result in fatalities. Trains are unable to stop quickly and thus may not be able to avoid an accident. Sometimes the collision is the result of human error or a mechanical malfunction. The train engineer may be distracted or tired, which could cause a crash. The warning gates and lights could malfunction, leaving a vehicle driver or pedestrian unaware of the approaching train.
Accident Damages
There is nothing to indicate the cause of this particular accident. However, if the crash was the result of negligence on the part of the train company or any others, they could be held responsible for the victim’s damages. In cases such as this one, the victim may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, which could be extensive. In addition to current medical costs, he may require future surgeries, rehabilitation, and possibly prosthetics.
Other damages may also be available in some cases. For instance, a victim or his family may collect money for lost wages, pain and suffering, and for a lifelong disability that could keep him from working. If an accident victim is fatally injured, his or her family may be entitled to money for funeral and burial expenses as well as money to compensate for the loss of companionship.
An investigation will determine the cause of the accident. The police will work to find out exactly what happened by interviewing witnesses, talking to the victim and engineer and reviewing any possible videos of the incident. Also, the gates and other mechanical functions will be tested to ensure that they were functioning properly at the time of the incident. If you were hurt in an accident you may need to take legal action to obtain the compensation you deserve. A skilled personal injury attorney will assist you in resolving your case in a favorable manner. Contact the Law Office of Patrick G. Shea today to discuss the details of your case.
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