In May 2015, an Amtrak commuter train traveling North on the Northeast Corridor from Washington, D.C. to New York City derailed at the Frankford Junction curve in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, killing eight and injuring hundreds.
On Thursday, only 17 months after the incident took place, federal district Judge Legrome Davis signed off on a $265 million dollar settlement between Amtrak and the derailment victims, one of the largest railroad crash settlements in United States history.
The payout, which came in under the $295 million federal cap (a cap that Congress increased from $200 million following the 2015 crash), was approved by Amtrak and a number of lawyers representing injured plaintiffs. The Judge’s order calls for the appointment of two positions responsible for evaluating claims and assigning monetary values to cases. According to the order, the injured Amtrak passengers and the family members of the deceased will receive a final number by June 30, 2017. They are to receive those payments in August 2017.
The train that derailed in 2015 was traveling more than double the posted speed limit when it derailed in Port Richmond. After their investigation, The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the train’s operator, Brandon Bostian, most likely lost track of where he was (Frankford Junciton Curve) after being distracted by reports of rocks being thrown at a nearby SEPTA train.
Amtrak never denied liability after the accident and has already begun settling smaller claims and paying medical expenses.
Messa & Associates Personal Injury Attorneys Represent Train Crash Victims
Messa & Associates has a long standing history of successful representation of Railroad injury victims. Joseph L. Messa, Jr. filed a lawsuit in May 2015 in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of 35-year-old Trevor Beddoe, a seriously injured victim of the Philadelphia Amtrak derailment. Messa & Associates also represents many victims of the 2012 Conrail derailment in Paulsboro, NJ that sent train cars into the Mantua Creek, releasing thousands of pounds of toxic vinyl chloride into the atmosphere. In addition, the firm represents the family of a deceased 17-year-old girl who was killed when the car she was a passenger in was struck by an oncoming Conrail train at an intersection that had no gates to signify or warn of oncoming trains.
New Jersey and Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys
Philadelphia personal injury attorneys and staff of Messa & Associates express our deepest condolences to all those who suffered loss after this great tragedy. If you believe you are need of legal assistance as a result of the Amtrak derailment, do not hesitate to contact our extremely skilled team of personal injury attorneys and medical experts who are dedicated to ensuring you receive proper compensation for your personal injuries. If you have been injured in a train crash or motor vehicle crash, or have endured any other type of personal injury, contact the personal injury attorneys of Messa & Associates for a free consultation. Chat representatives are standing by to answer any questions you might have regarding compensation for your injuries. If you are interested in seeking out legal representation as a victim of this horrible accident, do not hesitate to contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Messa & Associates. Call toll free at 1-877-MessaLaw, or submit a free online inquiry.
