Houston METRORail Accident Lawyer
Were you recently injured in a METRORail accident in Houston, Texas? You could be entitled to significant compensation. Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for immediate legal advice and assistance. Our Houston METRORail accident lawyers will fight to get you all of the money you need and deserve.
Our law firm offers a free consultation. Contact our Houston office at (713) 500-5000 or connect with us online to arrange yours today. We’re always available when you need our help – 24/7/365.
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How Will Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers Help If I’ve Been Injured in a METRORail Accident?
The METRORail has transformed how people travel around the city of Houston. The light rail spans 22 miles and transports more than 55,000 people across the city every single day. However, Houston’s METRORail system isn’t always the safest form of transportation. METRORail accidents are quite common.
Whether you’re waiting for the light rail, a passenger on the train, or walking down the street, the consequences of a METRORail accident can be quite severe. Many victims will struggle with physical, emotional, and financial repercussions for years to come. That’s probably more than you bargained for when you set out to go to work or enjoy your day. Fortunately, you could potentially be entitled to a financial settlement or ward.
However, keep in mind that getting money after a Houston METRORail accident isn’t always easy. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, the agency responsible for METRORail operations, will not just write a check. Neither will negligent METRORail drivers or other at-fault parties. You will have to take a stand and demand the money you deserve. Hiring our experienced attorneys can help to make things a lot easier for you.
At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, our personal injury attorneys collectively have more than 45 years of experience handling complex injury cases in Texas.
After an accident, we know that you might struggle in a variety of ways. We also know how much of a difference money can make as you fight to get back on your feet. That’s why we are prepared to invest whatever time, manpower, and resources are necessary to secure the compensation you deserve.
As we navigate your METRORail injury case, we will:
- Investigate your accident thoroughly, searching for any evidence that can support your claim for damages
- Consult with experts at every step in the process to ensure that we work with the best possible information
- Determine why your accident happened and identify who might be responsible
- Seek compensation from anyone who contributed to your METRORail accident
- Handle all paperwork and court filings associated with your case, and
- Negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
Most personal injury cases settle. However, we won’t settle if insurance companies, METRORail, or at-fault parties refuse to extend a fair offer to you. Our accomplished and respected trial lawyers will never take the threat of going to court off the table.
Want to learn more about how our experienced Houston METRORail accident attorneys might be able to help you after you get hurt? Give our law firm a call today to arrange your free consultation.
What Causes METRORail Accidents in Houston?
According to the federal railroad administration, the METRORail is classified as a light rail system. This simply means that it’s a rapid transportation system that is specifically designed to function in a metropolitan or urban setting.
Light rail systems are low capacity, limited in scope, and often travel at lower speeds than heavy rail systems (e.g., Amtrak).
In Houston, the METRORail is essentially built into the city’s infrastructure. It travels across Houston on three different lines – red, yellow, and purple. As a result, it often shares the road and crosses paths with vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Accidents can and do happen. When the METRORail first began operations back in 2004, there were roughly 6 accidents every single month. That represented a crash rate 20 times worse than the average for other light rail systems across the country. While things have gotten better, METRORail accidents are still fairly common.
Why are METRORail vehicles involved in so many accidents in Houston? Leading causes include:
- The METRORail operator is distracted, under the influence, or fatigued
- The METRORail operator fails to use the vehicle’s lights and warning systems
- The METRORail vehicle is defective or poorly maintained
- Drivers of other vehicles make dangerous or risky turns across the tracks
- Pedestrians and/or bicyclists fail to look for a METRORail vehicle before crossing, and
- The METRORail is not maintained properly.
If you’ve been involved in a METRORail wreck or if you’ve fallen at a METRORail station in Houston, Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand your legal rights. We’ll review the circumstances of your crash and discuss any potential course of action you might have for recovering compensation. Give our law office a call to learn more today.
We’ll Seek Money For All METRORail Accident Injuries
Many METRORail crossing accidents are relatively minor. However, even mild or moderate injuries can change life as you know it. At Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers, we are prepared to help you fight to recover damages for every single one of your METRORail railroad crossing accident injuries, including:
- Head injury, including concussion
- Neck injury, including whiplash
- Back injury
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Traumatic amputation
- Traumatic brain injury
- Eye injury
- Soft tissue damage
- Spinal cord injury
- Paralysis
- Lost limbs, and more.
There are times when a METRORail accident might be more catastrophic. If there’s a trespasser on the tracks or if a tram collides with a bicyclist, an accident can be deadly. If you’ve lost a loved one in a fatal METRORail accident in Houston, you could be entitled to compensation for your loss. Our wrongful death lawyers are here to help you navigate this difficult time and demand the financial award you need. Give us a call to learn more.
Who Is Responsible For METRORail Accidents?
When an accident involves a METRORail vehicle, it’s important to make sure that the incident is investigated thoroughly. Why? You want to be able to pinpoint every reason why the accident happened. With this information, you can identify everyone who shares responsibility. Under Texas state law, you can potentially recover compensation from each and every party who is allocated blame.
This might include:
- METRORail operators
- Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County
- Drivers of passenger cars
- Truck drivers
- Bus drivers
- Pedestrians
- Bicyclists
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturers
- Mechanics, and more.
Note that you won’t automatically be barred from recovering compensation if you are allocated some of the fault for your METRORail accident. You’ll still have the right to demand some money as long as you share no more than 50 percent of the blame. However, your damages will be adjusted to compensate for your role. So, for example, your damages would be reduced by 30 percent if you were allocated 30 percent fault.
It’s important to minimize your role in the accident. The less fault assigned to you, the higher your financial recovery can be. That’s why you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to our accomplished legal team for help after you get hurt. We’ll work tirelessly to get you all of the money rightfully deserve.
Damages Might Be Available After a METRORail Accident
The costs of a METRORail accident can be overwhelming. When someone else is responsible for a crash, they have to be held fully accountable for the damage they do. Our attorneys in Houston will do everything in our power to make that a reality for you.
Once we determine who is responsible for your suffering, we can aggressively pursue compensation on your behalf. That can include money for:
- Medical bills and expenses (e.g., hospitalization, surgery, medical equipment, medication)
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost income and wages
- Disability
- Disfigurement
- Property damage, and more.
If you were injured while working for METRORail, you could also be entitled to benefits through a workers’ compensation claim. As a railroad worker, this means that benefits could be available in addition to damages awarded in a personal injury lawsuit. Our attorneys can help you fully understand your legal rights and options.
Keep in mind that insurance companies will do everything in their power to deny your claim or drive down the value. Our team will challenge them every step of the way. We’ll bring in experts to help us understand your injuries and how your METRORail accident might affect you – today and in the future. With this information in hand, we can really appreciate what your case is likely worth. When we sit down to negotiate, we’ll be prepared to force insurers and at-fault parties to take responsibility and offer a fair payout.
You’ll Have a Limited Time to File a METRORail Injury Claim
It is critical to seek legal assistance as soon as you can after a METRORail accident in Houston. METRORail is operated by a government agency. This means that injury claims are subject to an accelerated statute of limitations. If you want to file a claim against the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, you’ll have to do so within 90 days of your accident.
If you decide to pursue compensation from other parties, such as a pedestrian, manufacturer, or motorist, you’ll have a little bit longer to assert your rights. Texas typically gives you up to two years after the date of an accident to file a claim in civil court.
Our Houston METRORail Accident Lawyer Are Here to Help
Have you or a loved one been involved in a METRORail accident in Houston, Texas? Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for help demanding compensation for your injuries and suffering. We offer a free consultation, so give our train accident lawyers a call today.