Monday, March 24, more than 30 people were injured when a commuter train came off the rails and shot up an escalator around 3:00 a.m. in one of the nation's largest airports. Before the eight-car train ran over the station platform, the train driver told federal investigators that she had nodded off. Also, she had only been operating trains at O'Hare for two months.
The driver was almost off the clock, and according to investigators, it is possible that her exhaustion was job-related, as she had a crazy schedule. The investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board uncovered that this same train driver had fallen asleep on a shift before, back in February, where she partially overshot a station. The mistake got her a reprimand, per policy guidelines. For this second error, she could face termination. Drug tests are still pending, but the operator, who an NTSB investigator called "very forthcoming" said that she was clean and was not even on medication.
Investigators found yet another serious issue when it was discovered that the emergency brake system failed to stop the train. These brakes were engaged, but they did nothing substantial to keep the train from moving. The train was only going the legal speed of 25 miles per hour or so. Investigators believe that the trigger for the emergency brakes should have been placed further back in the train in order to be effective. The Chicago Transit Authority said that it would transplant switches in trains so that brakes would be activated sooner, and that they would lower the speed limit for incoming trains.
The accident is said to have created $6 million of damage to just the equipment, including the portions of the escalator that were destroyed. But beyond this structural damage, dozens of people have been injured. While none of these injuries were reported as life-threatening or even serious, many people are suffering from injuries that are also costing them in medical bills, and likely in missed wages as well. Several passengers who were harmed in the accident have already filed negligence lawsuits against the CTA.
Just as this accident was not the only issue this new train operator has had, the CTA has had other recent troubles as well. Back in September, a CTA train without a driver started running down active rails and into a standing train. It was the morning rush hour, and no less than 33 people were injured.
When a transportation accident occurs, it does more than disrupt traffic, it disrupts lives and can mean a serious financial setback for the innocent people involved. And of course, on top of the soaring medical bills and lost time at work, they are also suffering painful injuries through no fault of their own. If you or a loved one have been injured in a train, bus, or car accident, you could be owed financial damages. This could be the case whether the accident was caused by:
- A defective vehicle part (you could file a product liability claim),
- Operator error (you might be able to sue their employer or file a claim against the driver),
- Or some other party's negligence.
You should not have to pay for another person's irresponsibility. Talk to an attorney to learn who could be at fault for your accident and injuries. A legal expert will understand the laws in your state, the rules that govern who is at fault, and how much you can recover from an injury claim. Find out if you have a case, and how much your case could be worth, when you contact a personal injury lawyer from our directory today!