Metro St. Louis Accident Lawyer

St. Louis has a complex public transit system with one of the nation’s busiest light-rail systems including 38 stations, two train lines, and nearly 7 million annual riders. Each Metro St. Louis train carries as many as 300 passengers per ride. While most train rides conclude successfully, it only takes involvement in a single train accident for an injury victim’s life to go off the rails in an instant.

There were 145 adverse incidents reported in a single quarter during 2022, the most recently complete full data year. These incidents include accidents as well as acts of violence, weapons violations, and property crimes.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a Metro accident in St. Louis, you need legal representation with experience navigating this unique type of accident claim. Call the St. Louis personal injury lawyers from Miller & Hine today for an evaluation of your case.

Why Choose Us as Your Metro St. Louis Accident Attorneys?

With five decades of combined legal experience, the accident and injury attorneys in St. Louis at Miller & Hine are the skilled, resourceful legal advisers you need to get results, especially with the challenges that come with an injury claim against a powerful entity like Metrolink. We offer significant advantages to your case, including the following:

• No upfront fees—instead, we offer free consultations and no fees until we secure your compensation
• A compassionate legal team of attorneys who have dedicated their careers to injury victim advocacy
• An attorney devoted to your case with the combined skills and resources of our entire team on your side
• A law firm with a respected reputation for tailoring individual strategies to benefit each client’s unique case
• Skilled investigators, experienced negotiators, and attorneys who are well-versed litigators if your case requires court
• A reputation for success to put a strong voice behind your claim

Our recent notable case results include a $160,000 win for a client injured in a Missouri bus accident. We’ve obtained millions of dollars for injured clients in St. Louis and the surrounding area.

Common City Train Accidents In St. Louis and Elsewhere

Passengers have a right to expect a safe journey on a St. Louis Metrolink train, yet accidents sometimes occur, including a train vs. car collision in 2024, a recent car accident impacting a Metrolink bridge, and a train vs. pedestrian accident in January. Common train accidents involving St. Louis Metro and other city trains nationwide include the following:

• Derailments
• Train collisions
• Railroad crossing accidents
• Trains hitting cars stalled or parked on the tracks
• Train vs. pedestrian accidents
• Grade crossing accidents
• Train fires and explosions
• Accidents caused by mechanical failures
• Collisions with obstacles on the tracks
• Track failure accidents
• Racking collisions

Train accidents may result from mechanical failures, faulty equipment, or operator error as well as from negligent drivers or pedestrians who interfere with the safe operation of a train.

Common Injuries In St. Louis Train Accidents

When a train derails, collides with another object, or encounters a strong bump or jar, the results inside a passenger car quickly become chaotic. Injuries occur in the initial accident, and often also as passengers struggle to exit a damaged or tipped train car. Common injuries in St. Louis train accidents include the following:

• Soft-tissue injuries to shoulders, wrists, knees, and ankles
• Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
• Neck injuries
• Back injuries
• Fractures
• Head injuries/traumatic brain injuries
• Burns
• Internal injuries
• Spinal cord injuries

No one gets on a Metro St. Louis train expecting an accident, but train accidents are not as uncommon as you might think. Recovering damages in a train accident in St. Louis requires careful handling. Call the St. Louis train accident lawyers at Miller & Hine for experienced representation to safeguard your best interests.

Why Is a Metro St. Louis Train Accident Claim Challenging?

The St. Louis Metrolink is part of a major transit system owned by the Bi-State Development Agency, rather than a city government operation. The large company has powerful insurers. Many insurance companies use common tactics to minimize the payouts on compensation claims or deny them completely. An attorney from Miller & Hine will thoroughly investigate the accident, document evidence of liability, carefully calculate your damages and send a compelling demand letter to the insurance company before entering negotiations for a settlement. If the company denies or undervalues the claim, our experienced litigators are ready to argue on your behalf in court.

What Damages Can I Recover After a Train Accident In St. Louis?

Train accidents are terrifying and traumatic. Even a relatively small bump can cause injuries from falling objects, breaking windows, and falls. More serious accidents can cause life-threatening injuries. Common damages recovered in train accident claims, including Metro St. Louis accidents, include the following:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Out-of-pocket costs related to injuries and medical care
• Lost earnings
• Future lost wages
• Diminished future earning capacity (in cases of disability)
• Compensation for pain and suffering

In some circumstances, other damages may be available for injuries such as traumatic limb loss, disfigurement, scarring, the loss of one of the senses, loss of enjoyment of life, and PTSD.

What to Do After a St. Louis Metrolink or Other Train Accident?

It’s crucial to remain calm after a train accident and try to calm others around you to prevent panic and worsened injuries. Be sure to follow directions if you’re instructed by officials to exit the train. Otherwise, remain in place to prevent causing further injury. Use your cell phone to do the following:

• First, call 911 to report the accident unless someone else has already reported it
• Then, use the phone’s camera to take photos of the interior of the train car and any visible injuries you’ve sustained
• If you’re able to move around safely and exit the train, take photos of the damage to the train and/or tracks
• Go to a hospital or urgent care center either with EMS or by arranging transportation from the scene
• Ask for a complete evaluation as well as treatment for emergency injuries
• Obtain a detailed medical report listing your injuries, the doctor’s recommended treatment, and your prognosis

Contact the Metro St. Louis accident lawyers at Miller & Hine today so we can begin strategizing the best way forward for optimal results in your compensation claim.

Call Miller & Hine for Representation by a Metro St. Louis Accident Attorney

No one should have to manage a complex accident claim against powerful companies and their insurers without skilled legal counsel through every step of the process. Reach out to our St. Louis accident attorneys today so we can begin advocating for the maximum compensation available for your injury.