Weekly Accident Roundup For August 23rd, 2017

In the Weekly Accident Report for August 23rd, we look at a devastating SEPTA Regional Rail train accident that injured over 30 passengers, and legal action continues one year after a Center City elevator accident paralyzed a Sheriff's Office sergeant.

33 Injured In Upper Darby SEPTA Train Crash

33 people were injured when a high-speed train crashed into a parked train at the 69th Street Transportation Center on Market Street in Upper Darby, just after midnight on Tuesday, August 22nd. 42 people were on board of the Norristown High Speed Line, while the parked train was empty at the time of the crash.

Four of the injury victims have been listed in critical condition. All of those injured in the crash are expected to survive.

Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived at the terminal in Delaware County at 7 AM on Tuesday to begin an investigation. There are eight officials, who each specialize in different fields, including mechanical operation, signal and train control, crashworthiness, emergency response, and human performance.

This is the second major train accident to occur at the 69th Street Terminal in 2017. The first happened in February when an out of service Market-Frankford El train crashed into two other trains on a loop track.

Multiple Lawsuits Filed After Center City Elevator Crash Injures Worker

A Sheriff's sergeant who was injured in a Philadelphia courthouse elevator crash gave his first interview since the accident, speaking with the Philadelphia Inquirer on August 18th.

While working as a sergeant in the Sheriff's Office, Paul Owens was riding alone in an elevator that was traveling over twice its rated speed. The elevator car crashed through the concrete ceiling of its shaft, paralyzing Owens from the waist down and sending him into a five-week coma.

The accident has raised concerns about nationwide elevator safety. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer article, each year about 25 people are killed and 10,000 more injured in elevator accidents. A lawyer representing Owens believes that many pre-2000 buildings have problems with elevator safety, which could result in other serious accidents.

Owens and his wife are suing the Philadelphia Municipal Authority, the landlord for city-owned buildings, U.S. Facilities - the Philadelphia company who was hired to operate and maintain city buildings, and two of that company's subcontractors. A whistle-blower lawsuit has also been filed by a former employee of U.S. Facilities, who alleges that he repeatedly warned his supervisers of elevator maintenance and safety issues.

How Civil Courts Can Help Injury Victims

Both of these accidents could have easily been prevented if the people responsible for safety and maintenance had done their jobs. The SEPTA train crash is the second in only six months, and safety concerns had been a talking point long before the accident. And the Center City elevator accident likely could have been stopped if the proper safety technology had been in place.

When innocent people get injured because of this type of negligence, it's important for them to take legal action against those responsible. This satisfies two needs - the injury victims can receive the compensation they need for damages related to their injury, and negligent parties can be held accountable for their actions, which in turn can prevent other people from being injured in similar accidents.

If you've been injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence, the personal injury lawyers at Monheit Law are here to help. We can help you understand your options in a free consultation, and will only ask for payment if and when we help you secure financial compensation. To find out more, contact us today.