Were you injured in a train accident in St. Petersburg, Florida? You may have the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault party. Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers can help you file a personal injury claim and receive money for your pain and suffering, financial losses, and more.
Our St. Petersburg train accident lawyers have more than 119 years of combined experience, and we’ve collected millions of dollars in compensation for our deserving clients in cases like St. Petersburg bus accidents, truck accidents, car accidents, taxi accidents, motorcycle accidents in St. Petersburg, and many more.
We’re known as “the aggressive attorneys,” and we won’t back down no matter who the opposing party is. If you hire us, we’ll work hard to secure a financial award or settlement reflecting all of your losses.
We offer a free initial consultation to review your case and provide legal advice. Contact our law office today at (727) 314-5988 if you’re ready to move forward.
How Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Train Accident in St. Petersburg
You likely have a lot on your plate after a train accident in St. Petersburg, FL. Mounting medical bills and other financial expenses, an insurance company berating you with questions, and significant pain and suffering are just a few examples of what you might be dealing with. Figuring out how to hold the at-fault party liable for your injuries and damages can seem impossible to handle on top of everything else.
Fortunately, if you choose our St. Petersburg personal injury lawyers to represent you, we can handle every aspect of your compensation claim while you focus on your medical recovery. We’ve been helping accident victims in Tampa Bay recover the compensation they need and deserve for over 20 years. Our award-winning legal team can help with your train accident case by:
- Conducting a thorough internal investigation into your accident
- Evaluating all of your damages and identifying the liable party or parties
- Working with leading experts as needed to further enhance your claim
- Negotiating with the opposing party on your behalf in settlement talks
- Filing a lawsuit and taking your case to a Pinellas County court if the circumstances call for it
Call us today to set up a free consultation with an experienced train accident attorney in St. Petersburg.
Are Train Accidents Common?
According to statistics from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety Analysis, there have been the following numbers of train accidents in the United States in recent years:
- 2022: 2,184 collisions, 774 injuries, and 274 fatalities
- 2021: 2,147 collisions, 680 injuries, and 234 fatalities
- 2020: 1,902 collisions, 697 injuries, and 195 fatalities
In 2022, Florida had the fourth-highest number of train accidents, with 117. Those accidents resulted in 52 injuries and 21 fatalities.
Based on these numbers, there are around five train accidents every day across the country, on average. And, in Florida specifically, there is a train accident roughly once every three days.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Train Accident in St. Petersburg, Florida?
If you’ve been injured in a train accident near St. Petersburg, you can recover economic and non-economic damages. Together, these are called “compensatory damages.”
These categories represent your losses that are financial in nature as well as those that aren’t necessarily financially related. Examples of economic and non-economic damages include the following:
- Lost wages
- Emotional distress
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Decreased enjoyment of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Decreased earning capacity
- PTSD, depression, and other similar conditions
- Loss of consortium
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Mental anguish
There is a third category of damages, known as punitive damages, but they are not usually awarded in personal injury cases. These damages are reserved for cases when the at-fault party acted with, for instance, extreme recklessness or disregard for the safety of others. Nonetheless, if we think you might have a punitive damages claim, we won’t hesitate to ask for them in your case.
Who Is Liable for My St. Petersburg Train Accident Injuries?
Florida law allows accident victims to hold a number of potential parties liable for their injuries. In the context of a train accident, this might mean any one or more of the following:
- Train operators
- Other train passengers
- Train companies like Amtrak or the Florida Central Railroad
- Other motor vehicle operators
- Train manufacturers
- Government entities
- Property owners and managers
- Train maintenance staff
- Train owners
In some cases, you might have a claim against multiple parties. Our St. Petersburg train accident attorneys will cut no corners in the process of determining who is at fault for your injuries and, from there, demanding fair compensation. We can also help with a wrongful death claim if you lost a loved one in a St. Petersburg train accident.
How Much Is My Train Accident Claim Worth in St. Petersburg?
Many factors can influence the value of a St. Petersburg train accident claim. No two cases are alike and involve the exact same set of facts, so no two will have the same worth. The following are just a few of the considerations that can come into play:
- The nature of the injuries you’ve sustained
- Your age at the time of the accident
- Whether you share any blame for your injuries
- The amount of evidence there is to prove your claim
- The extent to which your injuries will impact your life
Oftentimes, but not always, the cases involving the most debilitating injuries have the highest values. Nonetheless, properly evaluating a personal injury claim can be complex – sometimes requiring expert analysis. This process is of utmost importance; you have only one chance to recover compensation for your losses.
If you don’t hire an experienced train accident lawyer in St. Petersburg, you run the risk of resolving your claim for less than what it’s actually worth. Contact Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers today to discuss your legal rights and options.
Why Do Train Accidents Happen in St. Petersburg, FL?
A lot goes into safely operating a train, which means that a lot can go wrong as well. Despite this, since trains are considered common carriers, they are generally held to a higher standard of care. That leaves you, the injured victim, with many potential parties to seek compensation from.
Common causes of train accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Mechanical failure
- Improper train maintenance
- Distracted train operation
- Drunk train operation
- Negligent hiring or training practices
- Failure to adhere to rules and regulations
- Defective railroad tracks
- Fatigued train operators
- Communications issues
- Train derailments
Reach out to our law office in St. Petersburg to go over your legal options after a train accident. Your initial case evaluation is free of charge.
How Long Do I Have To File a Lawsuit After a Train Accident in Florida?
Florida recently modified its statute of limitations for most personal injury cases. If your train accident occurred on or after 3/24/2023, you’ll have two years to file a claim. If the accident occurred before that date, you’ll have four years instead. If you submit your lawsuit too late, you’ll lose your chance at compensation.
However, there are exceptions to these deadlines in some cases. Ideally, you should contact a personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg as soon as possible after an accident. A lawyer can help you determine the appropriate deadline for your case and protect your rights from the beginning.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced St. Petersburg Train Accident Attorney
Were you or a loved one harmed in a train accident near St. Petersburg? If so, you may have legal options available to you for compensation. Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyers is one of the most well-regarded personal injury law firms in the Tampa Bay area.
Our trusted St. Petersburg train accident attorneys have well over a century of combined experience. We’re confident we can help you secure a favorable outcome for your case.
We also work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you can hire us without any upfront costs. We also only receive attorney’s fees if we secure compensation for you. If you select us to represent you in your train accident case, we’ll be incentivized to maximize the value of your claim.
Visit Our Law Office In St. Petersburg, FL
Winters & Yonker Personal Injury Lawyer – St. Petersburg
111 2nd Ave NE Suite 350
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 314-5988
Hours: Open 24 Hours Daily
