The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

Although last summer's Red Line Metro crash near the Fort Totten Station was the worst accident in the transit service's history, it may only be a hint of what may be to come. Inspectors have concluded that the crash was caused by a failed sensor, causing a moving train to crash into a stationary one. This crash has been replayed twice in recent months, although fortunately with far less serious consequences. However, these crashes and other events seem to point to a culture of neglect at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority that may culminate in more train accidents, potentially even one as serious as the Fort Totten accident.

There have been three Metro train accidents since the June 22. In early September, a Metro worker was struck by a train and died of his injuries. The other two accidents occurred in the same rail yard, where moving trains struck stationary ones, injuring Metro employees. In August, two mechanics were injured when the train they were working on was struck by another train. This accident was described as "a very minor thing," but was followed by a much more serious accident on Sunday. Sunday's accident was another case of stationary trains being hit by moving ones. This crash occurred with sufficient force to derail two train cars. Overall, at least three cars were seriously damaged and investigators believe the cost of the crash to be at least $9 million. Although only three people were injured in Sunday's crash, many are pointing to these rail yard crashes as signs of serious problems at the agency.

In November, the Washington Post reported that the Metro had barred independent investigators from inspecting live tracks to see safety procedures in action, then deceived the board of directors about the ban. Metro train operators, talking under condition of anonymity, have reported power surges--long known, but unaddressed--that cause trains in the rail yard to lurch forward. Representatives of the driver's union have begun an independent investigation into these incidents and say that Metro has failed to implement a promised safety retraining for employees.

With nearly a million passengers from Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. using the system every day, the utmost care must be taken to ensure that the system is fully safe. If you or a loved one were injured in the Fort Totten Station accident or another transit accident, the personal injury lawyers of The Cochran Firm's Washington, D.C. office stand ready to help you. We can pursue the case both for you and to highlight lapses in safety to prevent a future accident. Please contact us today for a free case evaluation.