Passenger Injured By Commuter Train Accident

Case Overview

This case involves an injury sustained by a passenger during the day at an outdoor light rail station in Washington. The plaintiff alleges that the train was stopped when the plaintiff walked to enter it, at which point the plaintiff slipped and became trapped between the platform and the train car. Allegedly, the train’s conductor failed to notice that the passenger was stuck, and proceeded to pull out of the station. Her lower extremities sustained serious injuries in the process. The defense contends that the light rail car was moving while the plaintiff attempted to walk into the car. The plaintiff seeks an expert that can evaluate the situation and determine if the train car was stopped at the time of the accident.

Questions to the Electrical expert and their responses

Please discuss your background evaluating injuries sustained from railway accidents.

I've handled over 400 accident cases at this point, a number of which involved subway issues.

Are you able to determine if the train car was moving or stopped during the time of the accident?

I can look at the train's event recorder data, if any, to determine if the train actually stopped and for how long.

Have you ever served as an expert witness on a case similar to the one described above? If so, please explain.

I have handled a couple of cases that involved passengers slipping between the platform and the train.

About the expert

This expert has been in the railroad industry for over 30 years. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Syracuse University and has completed OSHA 30-hour training courses in both Electrical Standards and Occupational Safety and Health Standards for Construction. He is also certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners as a Photo Voltaic Energy System Installer, a certification which requires extensive training on the National Electric Code, the National Electric Safety Code, and ongoing Continuing Education Units. The President of the National Association of Railroad Safety Consultants and Investigators, he holds membership in a number of professional engineering organizations and is fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Traffic Accident Reconstruction. Currently, this expert is the President of his own railroad accident reconstruction firm. He has investigated over 300 locomotive-related accidents across the U.S. and Canada, including many railroad employee on-the-job injuries and FELA cases.