Train Accident Lawyer Los Angeles | Metrolink, Metro Rail & Amtrak Claims

If you need a train accident lawyer in Los Angeles, Mesriani Law Group is here to help. Los Angeles has one of the most extensive rail networks in California — LA Metro Rail, Metrolink commuter trains, Amtrak passenger service, and active freight corridors all operate throughout the region. When a train accident occurs, the injuries are frequently catastrophic, and the legal process is among the most complex in personal injury law.

Train accident claims involve multiple potential defendants, federal and state regulatory frameworks, compressed filing deadlines for government entities, and railroad companies with large in-house legal teams. At Mesriani Law Group, our Los Angeles train accident attorneys have the experience and resources to navigate every aspect of these claims and recover maximum compensation for injured passengers, pedestrians, and their families.

The Critical Filing Deadline for Train Accident Claims in Los Angeles

This is the most important thing to know: if your train accident involved a government-operated rail service, you may have as little as six months to file.

Under the California Tort Claims Act (Government Code § 910 et seq.), claims against government entities must begin with a formal administrative claim filed directly with that agency. For train accidents involving:

• LA Metro Rail (LACMTA): The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority operates the Metro A, B, C, D, E, and K lines. Claims must be filed with LA Metro within six months of the accident.
• Metrolink (SCRRA): The Southern California Regional Rail Authority operates commuter rail throughout LA, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties. Claims against Metrolink must be filed within six months.
• Amtrak: While Amtrak is a federally chartered corporation rather than a state government entity, it has specific procedures and deadlines for injury claims. Federal law may also apply to Amtrak claims depending on the circumstances.
• Freight railroads (Union Pacific, BNSF): Privately operated freight railroads are not government entities. The standard two-year statute of limitations under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1 applies, but federal railroad safety regulations still govern the analysis.

Important: Missing the six-month deadline for government entities permanently bars your claim. Contact a train accident lawyer in Los Angeles immediately after any rail accident — evidence such as event recorder data and onboard camera footage can also be destroyed or overwritten within days.

Why Train Accident Claims Are More Complex Than Other Personal Injury Cases

Beyond the compressed filing deadlines, train accident claims involve a layer of legal complexity not present in most personal injury cases:

• Federal regulatory framework: The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) sets safety standards for all railroads in the United States. FRA regulations governing speed, signaling, crew hours, track maintenance, and equipment inspections are central to establishing negligence in train accident cases.
• Common carrier duty: Train operators owe passengers the highest standard of care under California Civil Code § 2100, the same common carrier duty that applies to airlines and buses. Any failure to meet this heightened standard supports a negligence claim.
• Multiple defendants: A single train accident may involve the rail operator, a track maintenance contractor, a signal system manufacturer, a freight railroad sharing the line, and the operator of any vehicle involved at a crossing — each potentially sharing liability.
• NTSB investigations: The National Transportation Safety Board investigates major train accidents. Their findings are not directly admissible in civil litigation but are highly influential and must be understood and addressed in building your case.
• Evidence preservation: Event data recorders (“black boxes”), positive train control (PTC) logs, onboard cameras, and communications records are critical evidence that railroads may seek to preserve or control. Immediate legal action is required to ensure this data is preserved through proper legal process.

Types of Train Accidents We Handle in Los Angeles

Passenger Train Accidents

Collisions, derailments, and sudden stops involving LA Metro Rail, Metrolink, or Amtrak trains carrying passengers. These claims involve the common carrier duty of care and typically proceed as government tort claims against LACMTA or SCRRA — the same six-month deadline that applies to our Los Angeles bus accident claims.

Railroad Crossing Accidents

Vehicle-train collisions at grade crossings are among the most deadly accident types in California. Liability may fall on the railroad for inadequate warning systems, crossing gates, or sight line obstructions, or on a government agency that designed or maintained the crossing.

Pedestrian Struck by Train

Pedestrians struck by Metro Rail trains, Metrolink trains, or freight trains in Los Angeles have many of the same rights as pedestrian accident victims struck by vehicles. These claims require analysis of platform safety, fencing, lighting, signal systems, and operator conduct. The six-month government claims deadline applies for Metro and Metrolink incidents.

Train Derailments

Derailments caused by track defects, equipment failure, excessive speed, or improper loading can result in catastrophic injuries to passengers and nearby property occupants. Track maintenance failures and FRA regulation violations are often central to these claims.

Station and Platform Accidents

Slip and falls, door malfunctions, escalator failures, and platform edge accidents at Metro Rail or Metrolink stations. These may involve both premises liability claims and California Tort Claims Act procedures against LACMTA.

Freight Train Accidents

Collisions and crossing accidents involving Union Pacific, BNSF, and other freight carriers. These are private defendants subject to federal railroad safety regulations under the FRA and the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) for railroad workers.

Common Causes of Train Accidents in Los Angeles

• Operator error: Distracted operation, running signals, failure to maintain safe speed, and inadequate response to hazards
• Track defects: Sun kinks (track buckling from heat), broken rails, inadequate maintenance, and failure to comply with FRA track safety standards
• Signal system failures: Malfunctioning crossing signals, failed positive train control (PTC) systems, and inadequate warning systems at grade crossings
• Equipment defects: Brake failures, door malfunctions, and defective train components that may support products liability claims against manufacturers
• Excessive speed: Trains operating above FRA-permitted speed limits for the track class
• Fatigue and crew hour violations: Federal hours-of-service regulations limit crew fatigue. Violations are a significant cause of operator error accidents.
• Vehicles on tracks: Stalled or struck vehicles at grade crossings, or vehicles deliberately or negligently driven onto tracks
• Inadequate maintenance: Failure by track owners or maintenance contractors to identify and correct defects through required inspection protocols

Common Injuries in Los Angeles Train Accidents

Because of the mass and speed involved, train accidents frequently result in catastrophic and fatal injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and skull fractures — see our brain injury claims page
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Severe crush injuries and amputations
• Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding
• Broken bones and complex fractures
• Severe burns from fires or fuel ignition
• Lacerations and scarring
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychological trauma
• Wrongful death

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Train Accident?

• Medical expenses: Emergency treatment, trauma surgery, hospitalization, and all related medical costs
• Future medical care: Ongoing treatment and long-term care for permanent injuries
• Lost income: Wages lost during recovery and, for permanent injuries, reduced future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Property damage: Repair or replacement of vehicles and personal property
• Wrongful death damages: Funeral costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship — see our wrongful death claims page for more information
• Punitive damages: In cases of gross negligence or willful safety violations, courts may award punitive damages

What to Do After a Train Accident in Los Angeles

1. Seek immediate medical care — train accident injuries are frequently severe and may not be fully apparent at the scene due to adrenaline and shock.
2. Call 911 — report the accident and request police and medical assistance. A police report is critical evidence.
3. Document everything — photograph your injuries, the scene, any visible damage, and the train if safe to do so.
4. Get witness information — names and phone numbers of other passengers and bystanders who saw the accident.
5. Report to the railroad or transit authority — file an incident report, but do not give a recorded statement without speaking to a lawyer first.
6. Do not accept an early settlement — initial offers from railroad companies and their insurers rarely reflect the full value of catastrophic train accident injuries.
7. Contact Mesriani Law Group immediately — our train accident lawyers in Los Angeles will send legal hold letters to preserve event recorder data, camera footage, maintenance logs, and other critical evidence before it is lost.

Why Choose Mesriani Law Group as Your Train Accident Lawyer in Los Angeles?

Train accident litigation is among the most demanding work in personal injury law. Railroads have dedicated legal teams and significant resources. Successfully recovering compensation requires attorneys who understand FRA regulations, California Tort Claims Act procedures, and the evidence needed to prove negligence in complex rail accident cases. At Mesriani Law Group we bring:

• Over 30 years representing personal injury victims against government entities and railroad companies in Los Angeles and throughout California
• Hundreds of millions of dollars recovered for clients
• Deep knowledge of California Tort Claims Act procedures for claims against LA Metro and Metrolink
• Experience preserving and analyzing event recorder data, PTC logs, and railroad maintenance records
• No Win, No Fee — you pay nothing unless we win your case
• Available 24/7 in English, Spanish, and Farsi