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DC Metro Railway Accident Kills Two Veteran Workers

January 27, 2019 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

Public transportation rail systems and trains are potentially very hazardous—not only to pedestrians and patrons but to maintenance workers working on the system. Unfortunately, this proved true yesterday when two veteran employees of Washington, DC’s Metro system–Jeff Garrard, 49, and Sung Duk Oh, 68–lost their lives as they were crushed beneath a maintenance truck.

This tragic workplace accident happened around 1:45 a.m. on January 26, 2010, near Rockville, Maryland while the workers were installing new train control equipment on the track bed. They usually ended their shift at 11:30 p.m. but were working overtime at the time. The maintenance truck that hit the victims had four employees inside it. Jim Graham, chairman of the Metro Board of Directors said that “the tragedy was a direct result of human error.”

The victims were known to have impeccable track records and had not laxed in their services to Metro. With over 10,000 hours of experience between them, Garrard and Oh were fastidious and always careful. Yet, they lost their lives due to someone else’s carelessness and negligence. Both Garrard and Oh lived in Montgomery County, Maryland. Garrard is survived by a wife and teenage daughter (pictured above, photo courtesy of this Washington Post story). It is always very difficult losing a loved one. In normal circumstances it becomes hard to adjust to someone’s passing away. But if a cherished person loses his life to such carelessness, the wounds never seem to heal. Our prayers go out to Garrard’s and Oh’s family.

In addition, this is not an accident unique to Washington DC’s public transportation system. It could have just as easily happened in San Diego or anywhere in California’s many public transportation services. One has to wonder whether the late hours and long hours that the crews were working also played a factor in this industrial accident. Many times accidents like these occur when workers are fatigued.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a San Diego workplace accident, please contact San Diego industrial accident lawyer and the San Diego personal injury attorneys. You may also contact the San Diego truck accident lawyers for a free consultation and helpful information.

Father of Chula Vista Girl May Face Charges in San Diego Trolley Accident

July 31, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

Earlier this week, we posted a story about this fatal San Diego trolley accident in Chula Vista where 4 year-old Veronica Ramirez was killed. She had been riding on a bicycle with her father when they approached the trolley crossing at L Street. According to witnesses, the guard arms were down and the warning lights were flashing when Veronica’s father decided to ride around the guard arms in front of the oncoming trolley.

It wasn’t a contest.

Veronica was airlifted to Rady’s Children’s Hospital in Kearny Mesa to treat her ultimately fatal traumatic brain injury (TBI) and head injury. Her father was taken via ambulance to treat a fractured pelvis.

4 Year Old Killed, Father Injured, After Bicycle Hit by Trolley

July 27, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

A 4 year-old girl, identified as Veronica Ramirez, was killed and her 34 year-old father injured when the bicycle they were riding was struck by a San Diego trolley in Chula Vista on July 26, 2009.

The Chula Vista bicycle accident occurred on westbound L Street near Industrial Boulevard. According to witnesses, the trolley signals were already activated and the barriers were lowered when the young man attempted to cross the tracks as the trolley approached. The trolley struck the bicyclists, sending them flying about 40 feet.

The young girl was taken to Rady Children’s Hospital but died a short time later from her head injury. Her father was taken to UCSD Medical Center with a broken hip and internal injuries.

San Diego MTS Worker Shot on the Job

July 22, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

A San Diego Metropolitan Transit System security officer was reported to be in stable condition in the hospital following a shooting attack on his life when he was shot twice while at the Grossmont Trolley Station in La Mesa late July 18, 2009.

The shooting happened at 10:15 p.m. when an unidentified man shot the worker with a semiautomatic pistol, and then took the gun and two spare magazines from the officer’s belt. The attacker was not found even though a search was conducted with both police dogs and a helicopter. Trolley services at the station were suspended until 3:40 a.m. the following day for the police investigation. Riders were instead transported by bus. MTS officials report that security has been enhanced as a direct result of the incident.

Downtown San Diego Trolley Accident Kills Pedestrian

June 15, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

An eastbound San Diego trolley in Downtown San Diego struck and killed a pedestrian over the weekend on the afternoon of July 12, 2009, authorities say.

The fatal trolley accident occurred on the trolley line on C Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues, shortly after 3 p.m., Sgt. Ramona Hastings of the San Diego Police Department said. A dispatcher of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said that the victim died at the scene and that streets in the immediate surroundings were closed for investigations, which had not been concluded as of Tuesday morning. The victim’s name had not been released.

San Diego Trolley Accident Lawyers

March 14, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

People often wonder what they should do if they are ever involved in an accident with a trolley or while riding on the trolley as a passenger. The San Diego trolley system, despite being a beneficial service to this city, is involved in numerous accidents each year. People can be injured while riding on the trolley, or they can collide with the trolley while driving or walking or riding a bicycle.

The lawyers at the San Diego personal injury law firm, represent people who are involved in trolley accidents. We are experienced trolley accident attorneys and we can help guide you through the process. It is important that you know your rights if you are ever in this situation.

The San Diego Trolley Can Injure or Kill It’s Passengers, Pedestrians and Bicyclists Walking Nearby, and Car Drivers Who Cross on the Trolley Tracks. Our San Diego Trolley Accident Attorneys are Here to Help.

San Diego has a great public transportation system. The most popular of which is the “red-line” trolley system operated by the Metro Transit System (MTS) that runs throughout San Diego County. San Diego’s trolley system can take you pretty much anywhere you need to go throughout the City. Nearly 120,000 people ride it every day and it is the 6th oldest trolley system in America.

 

Unfortunately, the San Diego trolley system has been the site of serious and fatal injuries throughout recent years. These injuries can occur both inside and outside the trolley car. People have been injured while riding the trolley when the operator makes a sudden stop or if the train gets detailed.

Outside the trolley car, many people have been struck and killed by a moving trolley car. At times, these collisions are not the fault of the pedestrian or bicyclist. Sometimes an operator will fail to honk their horn and warn the pedestrian of the train’s presence. Other times, the trolley car’s lights won’t work, and the pedestrian does not see the trolley car until it is too late.

Primary Causes of Trolley Accidents:

  • Sudden stops made by the trolley operator.
  • Pedestrians and bicyclists that step onto the trolley tracks.
  • Worn and improperly maintained trolley tracks.
  • Negligent operation of the trolley.
  • Defective trolley car.

How Can We Help?

The San Diego personal injury lawyers are experienced trolley car accident attorneys. We have represented people that have been injured while riding on the trolley, and also people who were struck by a trolley. We have been able to attain favorable settlements for our client’s claims because we have been handling trolley accidents for years. If you or someone you know has ever been in an accident involving the San Diego trolley, please contact our law office for a free consultation.

San Diego Trolley Accident Injures Two Passengers

February 4, 2018 Injury Lawyer San Diego 0

Two light rail passengers were injured in a San Diego trolley accident as their trolley slammed into a postal vehicle at Park Boulevard and G Street in East Village in San Diego. This auto vs. train accident took place around 11:30 a.m. on February 3, 2010.

Though no one lost their life, two passengers, a 40-year old man who uses wheelchairs and a woman in her 40s, were taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital and Kaiser Hospital, respectively. The man was treated for major trauma and the woman sustained minor injuries. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.

Trolley accidents in Downtown San Diego are not unknown. Light rail drivers are known to enter intersections on the tail end of the yellow light, thereby causing traffic snarls and blocking intersections.