The attorneys at Block O’Toole & Murphy are following the horrific Amtrak train derailment that occurred last night around 9:30pm in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia. The train was traveling from Washington DC to New York City along the northeast corridor, the busiest passenger line in the country. The train was reportedly carrying 238 passengers and 5 crew members when its engine and all 7 cars violently derailed from the tracks.
Tragically, 6 passengers are reported to have died, and 146 were sent to hospitals for treatment. We mourn this horrible loss of life and send our condolences to the families and friends who have lost loved ones so unexpectedly.
Train accidents and derailments are becoming far too familiar to those of us who live and work in the northeast. We hope that the circumstances of this derailment are fully investigated so that those at fault can be held accountable and changes can be made to prevent future tragedies from occurring. At least one passenger was quoted as saying that, prior to the derailment, it felt as if the train was going too fast around a curve. Indeed, the crash did occur at a curve in the tracks, and reportedly was the same location where a 1943 train derailment occurred that claimed the lives of 79 passengers. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is arriving at the site today to investigate and will hopefully take this past history into account as well. They are notoriously thorough in their investigation and historically have been straight shooters when it comes to analyzing the contributing factors to a train accident. We hope that they continue that trend and leave no stone unturned.
Block O’Toole & Murphy is a personal injury law firm that seeks to hold wrongdoers accountable when their negligence or recklessness causes injury or death. The firm has recovered over $850 Million for its clients through often record-setting personal injury verdicts and settlements. The firm is noted for its trial skills, ability to handle the most serious cases and its commitment to never rest until its clients receive the justice they deserve.
Block O’Toole & Murphy can be reached anytime for a free consultation by calling 212-736-5300. The firm’s website can be viewed at www.blockotoole.com.
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/13/us/philadelphia-amtrak-train-derailment/index.html