A woman was killed in a Los Angeles train accident after she was struck by a Metro Blue Line train the afternoon of February 19, 2010. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles fire officials responded to a call of a person trapped under the train in the 1700 block of East Century Boulevard. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. It is not clear how or why this fatal pedestrian accident occurred. But officials say the woman was trying to cross the tracks.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this deceased pedestrian accident victim for their terrible loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2008 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 104 fatalities and 2,716 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in the city of Los Angeles. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 214 deaths and 4,985 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.

What Caused this Fatal Accident?

Based on this news report, it is tough to pin down the cause of this tragic accident at the moment. There are several questions here. It is, of course, possible the woman was trying to cross the tracks illegally and beat the train. But, if I were a family member of this victim, I'd definitely want to know if there was any negligence on the part of someone else here. Were there any crossing arms, warning signs, lights or bells at the crossing? Did the train operator sound the horn as the train approached the crossing?

Fault and Liability

If this accident was the result of an operator error, then the transit authority can be held liable for the woman's death. If this accident occurred due to a dangerous condition such as missing signage or safety features such as crossing arms, lights or bells, then the railroad can be held liable for the accident as well.

In cases where negligence or wrongdoing is involved, families of deceased accident victims can file wrongful death claims against the responsible party. Such claims are filed by immediate family members and seek compensation to cover medical or funeral expenses, lost future earnings, loss of love and companionship, and other related damages. An experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer will be able to guide families through these complex legal processes and help protect their rights and best interests.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.