San Francisco Train Accident Lawyers

Train and rail accidents in San Francisco can involve public transit agencies, private companies, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and different legal filing requirements depending on how the injury occurred. A claim involving BART or Muni, for example, may be subject to different procedures and deadlines than an injury involving a private party.

Our San Francisco train accident lawyers represent passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and others injured in train and rail accidents throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. We can investigate who may be responsible, preserve transit and maintenance records, identify applicable insurance coverage, and help you pursue compensation for your injuries and losses.

Call (800) 800-0000 or contact us online for a free case evaluation. Your consultation is free, and there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.

Why Choose The Barnes Firm After a San Francisco Train Accident?

Train accident claims can involve transportation agencies, operating records, surveillance footage, maintenance information, and government claim requirements that are not typically part of an ordinary accident case.

When you work with us, you have access to:

• Attorneys who can travel throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area to meet with clients when needed
• More than 40 attorneys nationwide
• 500+ years of combined legal experience
• More than 150,000 accident and injury cases handled
• Over $2.5 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements for clients
• Experience handling public transportation and serious injury claims
• Free case evaluations

Our Oakland-Bay Area office is located at 555 12th Street, Suite #1470, Oakland, CA 94607. We serve clients throughout San Francisco and can meet with clients at their home, office, hospital, or another convenient location when needed. The Barnes Firm states that its attorneys will travel to clients at their convenience.

Train and Rail Accident Cases We Handle in San Francisco

San Francisco is served by several rail systems. BART operates stations throughout the city, including Embarcadero, Montgomery Street, Powell Street, Civic Center/UN Plaza, 16th Street Mission, 24th Street Mission, Glen Park, and Balboa Park. Muni Metro operates both underground and surface light-rail service throughout San Francisco, while Caltrain connects San Francisco with communities along the Peninsula and South Bay.

Our attorneys can evaluate claims involving:

• BART train and station accidents
• Muni Metro and light-rail accidents
• Caltrain accidents
• Train collisions and derailments
• Injuries on platforms or in stations
• Pedestrian or bicyclist collisions involving trains
• Railroad crossing accidents
• Injuries involving train doors, platforms, or other rail equipment

The legal issues can vary considerably depending on the transit system, accident location, and parties involved.

Who May Be Liable for a San Francisco Train Accident?

Determining responsibility for a train accident may require looking beyond the train operator. Depending on what happened, potentially responsible parties may include a transit or rail agency, train operator, maintenance contractor, equipment manufacturer, property owner, another driver, or another party whose conduct contributed to the accident.

Our investigation may consider whether the train or station was properly maintained, whether safety procedures were followed, whether equipment malfunctioned, and whether another person’s negligence contributed to the injury.

Evidence That May Matter in a Train Accident Claim

Rail systems can generate records and electronic information that may help establish what happened. Some evidence may also be controlled by a transit agency or another organization, making early preservation important.

Depending on the accident, relevant evidence may include:

• Station or onboard surveillance footage
• Train operator records
• Incident and accident reports
• Maintenance and inspection records
• Train or equipment data
• Photographs and video from the scene
• Witness statements
• Transit records
• Medical documentation
• Records of lost income and other financial losses

Our San Francisco train accident attorneys can identify the evidence that may be relevant to the particular type of rail accident involved.

Claims Involving BART, Muni, or Other Public Transit Agencies

An injury involving a public transportation agency can have different requirements than a typical personal injury claim. California generally requires someone pursuing a personal injury claim against a government agency to first submit a government claim. For personal injury matters, that claim generally must be presented within six months of the injury, although exceptions and additional rules may apply.

This can be particularly important after accidents involving public transit. Missing an applicable government claim deadline may affect the ability to pursue the case later. If your injury involved BART, Muni, or another public entity, we can determine which claim procedures and deadlines may apply.

Compensation After a San Francisco Train Accident

The compensation available after a train or rail accident depends on the circumstances, the injuries sustained, liability, and the evidence supporting the resulting losses.

A claim may include compensation for:

• Medical expenses
• Rehabilitation and future care supported by medical evidence
• Lost wages
• Reduced future earning ability
• Pain and suffering
• Other documented accident-related losses

If a train accident results in a fatality, eligible family members may also have a wrongful death claim. For many California personal injury claims, the general statute of limitations is two years from the date of injury. The applicable deadline depends on who may be responsible and the facts of the accident. We can review those circumstances and determine which deadlines may apply.

What If a Railroad Employee Is Injured on the Job?

Certain railroad employees may have rights under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) rather than a typical state personal injury claim. FELA allows qualifying railroad employees to seek damages when an injury results in whole or in part from negligence by the railroad, its officers, agents, employees, or certain unsafe conditions involving railroad equipment or property. Because these claims involve different federal rules, an injured railroad worker should have the circumstances reviewed separately from a passenger or public-transit injury claim.

Contact a San Francisco Train Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a BART, Muni, Caltrain, or other rail accident in San Francisco, we can help determine who may be responsible and what type of claim may apply.

Our San Francisco train accident lawyers can investigate the accident, preserve available evidence, review transit and maintenance records, address applicable government claim requirements, communicate with insurers and other parties, and help you pursue compensation supported by your injuries and losses.

Call (800) 800-0000 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

Client Reviews

What our clients are saying about us

Nichole W.

The Barnes Firm was very friendly, always quick to respond to our calls, emails. When we had any questions or concerns they were there to walk us through everything. Would definitely recommend them to anyone that is looking for an attorney that will honestly fight for you and has your best interest in mind.