Investigators say the incident, which killed three people and seriously injured dozens, was caused by poor track conditions at the accident site. According to the report, the tracks, owned by BNSF, showed worn rail, vertical track deflection, instability, and track misalignment. The report also determined that poorly equipped and designed Amtrak passenger cars contributed to the deadly outcome of the incident.

Kristofer S. Riddle, partner at Clifford Law Offices and an attorney for passengers who were on the train when it derailed, shared in an interview that he was unsurprised by the report’s findings since damaged tracks are well-known safety concerns.

“Amtrak and BNSF have already admitted liability for this derailment, and appropriately so because the facts that were revealed in the NTSB report … demonstrate their negligent failure to inspect and maintain the railroad tracks that Train 7 was riding on when it derailed.”
-Kristofer S. Riddle, partner at Clifford Law Offices

Clifford Law Offices is representing a number of passengers who were involved in this tragic incident, offering expertise in handling complex passenger train cases. Mr. Riddle, who is the team’s lead attorney in this case, was also part of the trial team that obtained a $16.75 million verdict on behalf of three clients who were involved in the 2017 Amtrak derailment outside DuPont, Washington. Additional settlements related to that derailment totaled over $56 million.

With extensive experience litigating serious train accidents involving Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) vehicles, Metra trains, Amtrak, and other trains and rails, Clifford Law Offices can offer clients the best possible outcome following a horrific public transportation event. To learn more about Clifford Law Offices, click here.

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Michael Graham, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, told AP News that 14 cars carrying hazardous materials were involved in the derailment “and have been exposed to fire.”

Since the derailment, the evacuation order has been lifted, but according to reports from CNN, residents are still wary about the possible long-term health concerns associated with the hazardous materials and the impact this derailment will have on families and the environment as public water sources and the air are still being tested.

Congressman Jamaal Bowman tweeted on Wednesday, February 15:

“Nearly 1 million pounds of vinyl chloride were on this train. Now, the EPA has confirmed it’s entered the Ohio River basin which is home to 25 million people.

This is one of the deadliest environmental emergencies in decades and no one is talking about it.”

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