Mass Transit Accident

Police do not currently know why an adult man walked onto the train tracks on the morning of May 16, but are investigating this fatal South San Jose train accident. As reported by NBC Bay Area, this fatal San Jose pedestrian accident occurred at 6:40 am when the man walked onto the tracks near Tamien station and was struck by northbound Caltrain No. 217.

Reports do not indicate why the man was on the tracks or how long the conductor had to respond to the man’s presence on the railroad. The incident delayed trains for approximately 40 minutes as investigators dealt with the scene and Caltrain provided a bus bridge from the Tamien station to Diridon for travelers.

Unfortunately, this type of accident is not uncommon in the Bay Area or anywhere else in the state. This is the sixth Caltrain fatality since the beginning of the year and 16 deaths involved the train in 2011. On May 15, another man was struck by a Caltrain around 5:45 pm near the South San Francisco station and suffered non-fatal injuries.

Any accident that involves a pedestrian or passenger vehicle being struck by a train has the high possibility of ending in death due to the speed, size, and weight of any train that far outclasses a normal vehicle. While safety measures are set up around all stations, some train crossings may fall into disrepair, not work properly, or be hard to see for those nearby. As such, the accidents that result are frequently devastating.

If you or a loved one has been injured in such an accident, the San Jose train accident lawyers at Van Der Walde & Associates can help you find proper compensation from the parties responsible for the accident. For more information, call our offices today at (877) 862-6288.

Mass transit systems such as subways, trains, buses, light rail vehicles, and other carriers offer an affordable means of transportation that allow many people to get to their work with little hassle. However, when accidents occur that involve such vehicles, the results are often devastating and injuries are suffered by many. While such accidents occur much more rarely than car crashes or other vehicle accidents, it is important to be aware of the dangers present in both major and minor mass transit accidents.

Like many vehicle collisions, the injuries suffered are relative to the severity of the crash, and commonly suffered trauma includes broken bones, head injuries, and other blunt force trauma. However, each type of mass transit system has its own unique dangers in the event of a crash.

• Buses: Many buses do not have seatbelts for passengers, meaning that in the event of a Northern California bus crash, they may be thrown from their seats, resulting in injuries that would not occur when using a seatbelt.
• Trains/Subways: These carrier vehicles often travel at a very high speed, meaning that any collisions, derailments, or sudden stops may be even more serious. Passengers can be thrown across the vehicle, and the amount of people and hazards within the train cars can cause injuries if a passenger slams against them.
• Light Rail: These vehicles, such as trolleys or trams, run along streets with other vehicles such as cars, meaning that a collision is more likely to occur. Vehicles can derail, lose control, and hit other vehicles at high speeds. Additionally, if they are open on the sides, passengers are at a greater likelihood to be ejected from the vehicle upon impact.

While mass transit accidents are less common than many other crashes, these collisions can cause life-altering injuries to victims. To hold at-fault parties, such as vehicle operators, other drivers, and transit companies responsible, victims should find an experienced lawyer. The San Jose mass transit accident attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates can assist you in your search for compensation. Call us for more information today at (877) 862-6288.

A collision between a San Francisco Municipal Railway light-rail vehicle and a police car resulted in the hospitalization of four people on the morning of December 30. The accident occurred at the intersection of Third Street and 22nd Street when the streetcar struck the police vehicle’s driver’s side while travelling north on the T-Third line, according to The San Jose Mercury News.

The collision occurred around 5:45 am and resulted in the T-Third line being shut down for around two hours as the intersection was closed for investigation and repairs for a traffic signal damaged in the crash. The accident injured the two officers who were in the police vehicle, the driver of the light rail vehicle, and a female passenger onboard the vehicle. The officers were taken to San Francisco General Hospital while the driver and passenger were transported to California Pacific Medical Center’s St. Luke campus. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening.

While mass transit vehicles, such as trolleys, are rarely involved in accidents, such occurrences typically result in severe injuries for those affected. Mass transit vehicles often lack restraint systems and some vehicles feature a more open design which puts passengers at risk for ejection of being struck directly by another vehicle.

Like all vehicle accidents, mass transit crashes can result in both severe and life-threatening injuries to everyone involved. If you or a loved one has been injured in such an accident due to the negligence or recklessness of another party, the skilled San Mateo mass transit accident attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates can aid you in finding compensation from those responsible. For a free consultation on your case, call our offices today at (877) 862-6288.

Despite being balked by various speed bumps along the way, California’s bullet train project has stayed, relatively, on track after voters approved the project in 2008. According to Capitol Weekly, the $45 billion project has created controversy and criticism but is still generally considered as a boost for California’s economy. With continued federal funding and decisions on routes, the bullet train is expected to succeed.

The first leg of the new high speed rail is set to be built along 123 miles of track between Fresno and Bakersfield. Ultimately, there will be about 800 miles of line connecting the Bay Area to Anaheim, though the remaining layout is currently the topic of much debate. According to the High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA), other possible routes include San Jose to Bakersfield, Merced to Palmdale, and Merced to the San Diego Valley. The first major line will travel from Transbay Terminal in San Francisco to Union Station in Los Angeles. The high speed rail would allow Amtrak trains to increase their speeds on the new track from 79 mph to 125 mph.

Construction on the new bullet train line is expected to begin in September 2012 and to finish by 2017. Preliminary bidding for the construction project is set for September 8 of this year. The completed high speed railway will be operational in 2020. It will allow for a travel time of 2 hours and 40 minutes between San Francisco and Los Angeles and, as it will be electrically powered, it will decrease pollution. Specifics, such as fares, have not yet been determined.

As exciting as this new project may be, officials must be sure to set appropriate safety regulations and protocols to protect the passengers of this new bullet train. All mass transit vehicles must consider the safety of its passengers of the utmost importance. This includes performing timely maintenance and safety inspections, as well as hiring properly trained operators. All it takes in one missed repair or one inexperienced operator to slip through the cracks to put mass transit passengers in danger of injury or death.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a mass transit accident in the Bay Area, whether by bus, train, or plane, the experienced San Jose mass transit accident attorneys at Van Der Walde & Associates have the knowledge and resources to hold negligent parties accountable for your losses. To learn more about your legal rights, call us today for a free case review at 877-862-6228.