Woman Seriously Injured in Long Beach Train Accident

A woman was critically injured in a Long Beach pedestrian accident the morning of March 3, 2010 after she was struck by a Metro Blue Line train. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, the woman, who was in her 40s, was hit by a southbound train on Long Beach Boulevard as it was approaching First Street. The woman sustained head injuries and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Long Beach fire officials said the woman was unconscious and was pinned under the train when paramedics arrived at the scene. It took rescue workers about 10 minutes to free her. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

My heart goes out to this train accident victim. I hope and pray that her injuries were not major and hope that she has a speedy and complete recovery. She will be in my prayers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were six fatalities and 234 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Long Beach. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 214 people died and 4,985 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it is not clear who or what caused this pedestrian versus train accident. There are still several questions here. Where was the woman walking at the time of the collision? Were there any warning signs at the crossing? Was the crossing arm, the bells and lights working at the crossing? Was this accident the woman's fault? Did she attempt to cross the tracks when the arm was down or did she try to run across the tracks? I trust officials are looking into exactly how this accident happened and why.

If there was a dangerous condition at the tracks such as lack of proper signage or non-functioning, mal-functioning lights or crossing arms, the railroad can be held liable for the accident or injuries. If this accident was the train operator's fault, the transit authority can be held responsible. In such cases, victims can seek compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, cost of compensation, rehabilitation and even cost of long-term care. An experienced Long Beach personal injury lawyer will be able to advise accident victims about their legal rights and options, and help protect their best interests.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.