The fatal collision in Sunnyvale on July 19 between a commuter train and an individual described as an adult male trespasser brought the 2011 death toll on the Caltrain system to 11, a total already greater than the 10 fatalities reported by the agency for all of 2010.

Caltrain maintains accident records indicating 19 fatalities along the system in 2009, 10 in 2010 and 11 so far in 2011. Of these 38 deadly accidents, 24 were determined to be suicides, with another 12 cases under investigation.

Fatal commuter train accidents can result from any number of causes, with suicide being the leading cause of death in recent years. In cases of derailment, grade-crossing accidents involving cars or bicycles, or other accident scenarios, it can be difficult to determine whether operator error, equipment malfunction, negligent station or signal design or other causes are primarily to blame for a given accident.

Trial Lawyers with a Record of Success in Public Transportation Accidents

Experienced attorneys who are familiar with the legal, procedural and evidentiary demands of wrongful death litigation against public transportation agencies can help the surviving families find out just went wrong in a fatal train accident. At Weber & Nierenberg, our lawyers have successfully resolved a number of serious or fatal accident cases involving Bay Area transit agencies.

We recovered a total of $9.1 million in four cases involving serious or fatal injuries resulting from negligent or intentionally tortious conduct on the part of Bay Area public transportation agencies and their employees. Weber & Nierenberg’s experience with the investigation and proof of personal injury and wrongful death claims in a wide variety of situations represents a powerful advantage in our clients’ favor.

Call 866-288-6010 for a Free Consultation at Any of Our Four Offices

For additional information about our law firm’s experience with the resolution of complex tort claims in serious or fatal accident cases involving public transportation agencies in northern California, contact Weber & Nierenberg in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose or San Rafael. You can also learn about our practice by visiting our website.