Posted on 05/19/2015 9:15:04 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd
WASHINGTON — For the first time, Amtrak could face a $200 million payout to train crash victims — the limit set by Congress. But that may be too low to cover the costs of the eight lives lost and more than 200 people injured in last week's derailment in Philadelphia.
That payout cap for a single passenger rail incident was part of a late effort in 1997 to pass a law that would rescue Amtrak from financial ruin and help it one day become independent.
~snip~
Using past passenger rail accidents as a guide, some lawyers expect damages from the crash to be similar to a 2008 accident in Los Angeles, which resulted in a $200 million payout to victims. In that crash, the train's engineer was texting and didn't stop at a red signal when the train collided head-on with a freight train, killing 25 people and injuring more than 100.
The money was paid to victims by Metrolink, which provides commuter rail service in Southern California, and Veolia Environment, a French company that operated the rail service at the time.
A judge divided the $200 million among the victims, with sums between $12,000 and $9 million. In some cases, lawyers said the amounts were far less than the projected costs of medical care needed as a result of the crash.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
By the time the lawyers get their cut - the victims might have enough to pay their medical/funeral expenses.
Maybe.
As bad as this crash was, I can’t imagine that liability would approach $200 million unless, of course, you have a jury looking to make jackpot awards to anyone and everyone.
Yet, they’re demanding a ransom of $117 Billion from the taxpayers or there will be more crashes.
What, only $100,000,000 for all those hard working lawyers?
Amtrak will be liable for nothing. For decades, the United States taxpayer has to subsidize all of losses of that perpetually failed company.
How'd that work out?
Every politician still in office who voted for that cap should be thrown out in the next election (if they can’t be recalled).
Amtrak my A$$! Taxpayers liable and I bet it’s a lot more than 200 million when you get it all said and done! There are the victims, the lawyers, the hearings, the equipment. And you just know the gaygineer will end up with a fat union payday, courtesy of the taxpayers too!
On a payout limit like this, the 8 families of the dead would get millions each - probably don’t even need them TV injury lawyers..... The 200 injured? They’ll be needing lawyers.
The first car in the train -- the one that was shredded -- was the Business Class car and that's where the tech company CEOs were seated. 8 deaths and over 200 injuries -- $200 million in damages could be low, and that's before the lawyers get involved. The doofus driving the train should have paid attention to what he was being paid to do.
When, and if, the actual facts come to the surface in this monster, unecessary tragedy.....Amtrak will be destroyed by reputation and forced to sell-out because they will be rightfully sued into oblivion!!!
This whole “Obama” cover-up with the NTSB, the Amtrak incompetent Leadership & Mangement and the federal government bumbling like the idiots and morons they all are......would be a great silent comedy movie, if it was not so pathetic and murderous!!!
The cause of this horrible accident should have been known and identified publicly within three to five days after the accident occurred!!! But....Obama has sent out the order....”Cover My Butt Up”!!! Shucks, can’t we blame GW Bush, can’t we blame Whitey, can’t we blame old people???
America & Americans, these days are nothing but Sad...Sad, Sad....across the board!!! Wait until ISIS gets loose here in the homeland....Americans will rue the day they ever supported Obama and his Democrat Party!!! The clock is running, America...and your are in danger and harm’s way from many sides because of failed government and leadership across the board and your own weak or missing judgement.
What to do......Destroy Obama, Hillary Clinton and the Democrat Party, Politically!!! Otherwise....just sit back, relax, and ISIS will take care of everything!!! End of story!!!
Ok. How do I get my share?
No, I wasnt a passenger on the train. No im not related to or know any of the passengers on the train. But I have suffered emotional distress reading about the crash in the newspapers. So whats my cut? /s
Government agency - good luck, years and years for a payout if ever. If it happens, the victims family would get their $7500 after the lawyers get through.
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