by Richard N. Shapiro

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Rick is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

2/14/2010
Richard N. Shapiro
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Another D.C. Metro Accident, 3 People Injured

A six-car D.C. Metro train on the red line moved onto the wrong set of tracks and a safety device derailed the train causing three injuries. The safety device, known as a  "derail" or "derailer" is programmed to automatically derail a train if it starts to move in the wrong direction down a railroad track, according to the Washington Post. 

There are many questions that need to be answered regarding this Metro wreck. First and foremost, what caused the Metro train to travel on the wrong track as workers are required to apply the braking systems? Was the operator distracted or intoxicated? Both the railroad/train operator and downtown controller are undergoing drug and alcohol testing to determine the answer.

Unfortunately, D.C. Metro rail system has been involved in numerous wrecks this year including the worst crash in Metro history. Nine people were killed and over 60 people were injured  in the crash. Another fatal Metro accident resulted in two workers getting killed when a maintenance truck hit them while repairing tracks.   Other railroad accidents have occurred where there wasn't a loss of life, fortunately.

All of these wrecks indicate a serious problem in the D.C. Metro system and dramatic action needs to be taken. Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty called for a "complete overhaul" of the Metro system including new management, according to the Washington Post.  Given the dramatic increase in serious Metro rail/subway accidents, the Mayor may have a point.

Category: Mass Transit (Airline, Train, Bus)

Labels: accident Attorney Crash D.C. derailer metro red line Shapiro tracks train Wreck

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Viriginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling cases for victims of mass transit accidents such as airplane, train and bus crashes. In fact, our law firm published a free consumer safety guide on what to do if you are hurt in a plane wreck.

We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia but we're ready to come to you anywhere in VA including Suffolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Norfolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008, and have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of lawyers receive.

Shapiro and Lewis have also been selected for inclusion in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, ours was the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA mass transit injury law firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultations. Call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can respond directly to you.

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