A man sustained fatal injuries in a Los Angeles train accident after he was struck by a Metro Blue Line train at a South Los Angeles crossing. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred the morning of December 27, 2009 at the intersection of Vernon Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard. The impact of the collision caused the man to be thrown clear of the tracks. He died at the scene.

A spokeswoman for the Metro tells the Times that the crossing-gate bar should have been down at the time and both the gate and a light should have stopped the man from crossing. It is not clear at what speed the train was traveling at the time, but officials say the train's speed is regulated automatically so it slows down at crossing from the regular speed of 55 mph.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this deceased accident victim. I offer my deepest condolences to them. This grieving family will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.

Accident Statistics

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 90 deaths and 2,690 injuries as a result of pedestrian accidents in the city of Los Angeles. Countywide, pedestrian accidents claimed 210 lives and injured 5,095 injuries during the same year. According to statistics posted in the Los Angeles Times, as of 2008, there were 821 total accidents on the Metro Blue Line since July 1990. Out of these, 652 involved train versus vehicle incidents and 169 involved train versus pedestrian accidents.

Accident Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it is not quite clear exactly how or why this pedestrian failed to notice the approaching train and was struck. If I were a member of this victim's family, I'd want to find out whether the crossing gate bar and the lights at this crossing were working at the time of the collision. If the gate and the lights were not working at the time, then the family of this victim could seek compensation from the transit authority for allowing the dangerous condition to exist.

In such cases, victims or their families would be well-advised to contact a reputed Los Angeles personal injury lawyer, who has an excellent track record with pedestrian accidents and train accidents. A knowledgeable injury lawyer will also be able to determine whether there was a dangerous condition here that may have caused or contributed to this fatal accident. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency in California must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

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.