Bianca Babaians
If you or someone in your family was hurt in a train crash in Los Angeles, this is the most important thing to understand: the deadline to file a claim against a government-operated railroad like Metrolink or LA Metro is six months, not two years.
That shortened window is the single biggest reason injured victims lose otherwise valid claims.
A los angeles train accident lawyer at Babaians Law Firm knows exactly which deadlines apply to your case, how to preserve the train event recorder data before it is overwritten, and how to pursue every party responsible for your injuries. You focus on recovering. We handle everything else.
Los Angeles has one of the most complex rail systems in the United States. According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), California consistently ranks among the top states for train-related incidents at grade crossings and along shared corridors.
Understanding which rail system was involved in your crash directly determines who you sue, which deadlines apply, and what evidence needs to be preserved first.
Metrolink (SCRRA): Metrolink operates commuter rail across six county lines, including routes through Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura, and Orange counties. It is operated by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), a government joint powers authority.
Government tort claim rules apply: you have six months to file.
LA Metro Rail: The Metro system runs light rail (A, C, E, K Lines) and heavy rail (B, D Lines) across Los Angeles County. LA Metro is a government agency (LACMTA). The same six-month government tort deadline applies under California Government Code Section 911.2.
Amtrak: Amtrak runs the Pacific Surfliner and other intercity routes through Los Angeles Union Station. Amtrak is a federally chartered corporation with its own procedural rules distinct from California state tort claims.
Freight Rail (BNSF, Union Pacific): Major freight carriers operate through the Alameda Corridor, the San Gabriel Valley, and industrial zones across LA County. Crashes at grade crossings involving freight trains are governed by federal railroad safety regulations under the FRA.
This is the most critical fact for any Metrolink or LA Metro crash victim. Under California Government Code Section 911.2, a formal government tort claim must be filed within six months of the date of injury. Missing that deadline permanently eliminates your right to sue the public agency, no matter how serious your injuries are.
A los angeles train accident lawyer at Babaians Law Firm files the tort claim immediately and prepares the civil lawsuit to follow after the agency’s rejection.
All rail operators are subject to FRA oversight. FRA regulations cover track maintenance, equipment inspection, grade crossing safety, crew qualification, hours of service, and signal systems. When a carrier violates these federal standards and a crash results, those violations become powerful evidence of negligence in your civil claim.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) also regulates rail safety for lines operating in California, including Metrolink’s grade crossing safety program. CPUC inspection findings and enforcement actions are public records that your attorney can obtain.
A train crash in Los Angeles can involve the train operator, the track owner (often different from the operator), a freight carrier using shared track, the local government responsible for crossing signals, and an equipment manufacturer whose defective component contributed to the crash.
A los angeles train accident lawyer investigates every link in that chain simultaneously, because each party represents additional insurance coverage and recovery potential.
Train event recorders capture speed, braking, throttle position, horn activation, and signal inputs in the moments before impact. This data is overwritten when the train returns to service. Track inspection records, signal maintenance logs, and crew qualification files all have limited retention windows.
Preservation hold letters must be sent to every defendant within the first week of retaining a los angeles train accident lawyer.
Sudden stops, collisions, derailments, and door malfunctions injure passengers who are unrestrained. Under California Civil Code Section 2100, train operators are common carriers held to the utmost care standard, which is higher than ordinary negligence. When they fall short of that standard and a passenger is hurt, the legal case is strong from the start.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), grade crossing crashes are among the most preventable and deadliest rail incident types in the country. In Los Angeles, liability at a crossing can fall on the train operator, the track owner, the local government agency responsible for signal maintenance, or some combination of all three.
Pedestrians struck by trains near stations, along corridors, or at crossings sustain injuries at the most severe end of the scale. A los angeles train accident lawyer examines inadequate fencing, poor lighting, and signal failures that contributed to the crash alongside the operator’s direct liability.
Track defects, unsecured cargo, excessive speed, and signal failures cause derailments. These cases typically involve multiple defendants: the rail operator, the track maintenance contractor, and in some cases equipment or cargo manufacturers.
Workers injured near railroad operations may have claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) if employed by a railroad, or standard third-party civil claims if employed by a contractor. A los angeles train accident lawyer determines which framework applies and pursues the correct defendant under the correct legal standard.
| Defendant | Basis for Liability |
| Train operator | Negligent operation: speed, signals, fatigue, distraction |
| Rail authority (Metrolink, LA Metro) | Systemic failures: maintenance, training, crossing design |
| Track owner (BNSF, Union Pacific) | Track condition, crossing barrier maintenance |
| Local government | Signal maintenance, crossing signage, road design |
| Equipment manufacturer | Defective brakes, signals, or safety systems |
| Cargo company | Improperly secured loads causing derailment |
Each defendant in this chain typically carries its own insurance policy. A thorough investigation by a los angeles train accident lawyer identifies and pursues every available source of compensation.
Train accident injuries tend to be severe because of the size disparity between a train and a human or vehicle. A successful claim can recover:
| Defendant Type | Deadline |
| Metrolink (SCRRA) / LA Metro | 6-month government tort claim |
| Amtrak | Federal procedural rules apply |
| BNSF / Union Pacific (private) | 2 years under CCP Section 335.1 |
| Local government (crossing signals) | 6-month government tort claim |
See our full California Personal Injury Statute of Limitations Guide for a complete breakdown.
The rail operator’s legal team activated within hours of your crash. They are preserving evidence that helps them. Train event recorder data is being retained on their terms. Without a litigation hold from your attorney, the data that proves speed, braking failure, or signal violations can disappear the moment that train returns to service.
A los angeles train accident lawyer at Babaians Law Firm sends formal preservation demands on day one, files the government tort claim within the six-month window, and builds your case on the complete evidentiary record, not whatever survives by default.
You have real legal rights after a Los Angeles train crash. But those rights come with deadlines that are shorter than you expect, and evidence that disappears faster than you realize.
Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyer at Babaians Law Firm will take over your case immediately, meet every deadline, and pursue every party responsible for your injuries. No upfront cost. No fee unless we win. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation before the window closes.
Los Angeles train accidents are not ordinary personal injury cases. They involve government agencies with shortened claim windows, federal railroad regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and evidence that disappears on a compressed timeline.
A los angeles train accident lawyer at Babaians Law Firm understands every layer of this complexity and acts on day one to protect your claim. Do not wait until you feel ready. Contact us today and let us get to work.
Under California Government Code Section 911.2, a government tort claim must be filed with Metrolink (SCRRA) or LA Metro within six months of the injury date. This is separate from and much shorter than the standard two-year personal injury statute.
Missing it permanently eliminates your right to recover from those agencies.
Multiple parties are frequently responsible: the train operator for signal or speed violations, the track owner for crossing barrier condition, the local government for signal maintenance failures, and potentially an equipment manufacturer for component defects.
A los angeles train accident lawyer investigates every link in this chain simultaneously.
A train event recorder captures speed, braking, throttle, horn use, and signal status in the moments before a crash. It is the most valuable technical evidence in any rail accident case.
Without a formal litigation hold letter from your attorney, this data may be overwritten the moment the train returns to active service.
Yes. Passengers are not at fault for the operation of the train. California Civil Code Section 2100 holds common carriers including Metrolink to the utmost care standard.
You have strong legal standing for full damages. The six-month government tort claim deadline means you should contact a los angeles train accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Yes. You pay nothing unless we obtain a recovery. There are no upfront costs and no retainer fees.
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