TRAX Accident Lawyer

TRAX is the light rail that runs throughout the Salt Lake valley, providing public transportation from downtown Salt Lake to the airport, Daybreak to West Valley, Sugarhouse to the University of Utah, and beyond (and between). And for those who live in Utah, the TRAX is one of the most convenient and efficient ways to get to and fro. Indeed, it is used by hundreds of people every day, and is packed during rush hour, on Jazz game days, and days when the Utes are playing (and your game day ticket acts as your TRAX pass!). TRAX also has a free zone downtown, making it a great way to navigate the city without having to worry about a car.

Indeed, there is no doubt that the TRAX system is one of the most efficient forms of public transportation in the west, and with more expansion, TRAX is reaching farther than ever before. But with all forms of public transportation, particularly transit systems that rely on rail, there is always the risk of an accident occurring. At the law offices of Christensen & Hymas, our Utah TRAX accident lawyers can help you to bring forth a claim against the appropriate party, including the Utah Transit Authority, if you’ve been injured in a TRAX accident.

Potential TRAX Accidents

From packed platforms to defective crossing arms to shoving passengers and more, there is a lot of potential for an accident to occur while on TRAX, near TRAX, or while crossing TRAXtracks. Some accidents that have happened in the past, as well as potential TRAX accidents, include:

• Slip and fall accidents. Slip and falls are one of the most common accident types in general, and can occur while walking along a TRAX platform (especially during the cold and icy Salt Lake winters), while boarding or deboarding a train, or while riding a train, particularly if there are not enough seats, leaving standing room only. Most slip and fall accidents can be avoided by exercising extra caution when entering and exiting a train, and never running on platforms. As a note, bicycles should be walked, not ridden, on platforms as well to reduce the risk of a collision or fall.Falling off of a platform and onto the tracks is also a possibility, which can have severe consequences. If a train is coming at the time of a fall and the operator does not have time to stop the train, the fall could be deadly. The best way to avoid falling onto the tracks is to stay behind the yellow warning line that is painted on platforms, indicating a safe distance while waiting.
• TRAX crossing accidents. One of the most severe accident types is an accident that occurs while crossing the tracks, leading to a collision between a pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclist, or motor vehicle and a TRAX train. These accidents have the potential to be deadly, and people have been killed in this type of accident in the past. TRAX crossing accidents may occur for a variety of reasons, including:
  • Broken, defective, or improperly maintained crossing arms;
  • Failure of a pedestrian, bicyclist, or driver to stop in front of crossing arms and yield to a train;
  • Wearing headphones or/and failing to look both ways before crossing tracks; and
  • TRAX operator negligence.
• Assault. While it may seem improbable, there have been reports of both assault and sexual assault occurring while waiting for TRAX or riding a TRAX train in the past. Assault and sexual assault are both very serious offenses, and a victim may bring forth criminal as well as civil charges against the perpetrator.

Who’s Liable for a TRAX Accident?

Liability refers to the concept of legal responsibility, and can be hard to determine in an accident involving a TRAX train. Not only does liability depend upon the type of accident that occurred, but also on whose negligence caused the accident. Negligence is the failure to act with a reasonable duty of care, and is the basis of all injury claims.

Consider the above possible TRAX accident types; there are a myriad of different parties who could have acted negligently, causing the accident, depending upon the specifics. For example, if a party involved in a slip and fall accident slipped on ice on a TRAX platform, they may be able to bring forth a civil action against Utah Transit Authority (UTA) alleging that UTA breached the duty of care owed to the injured person by failing to adequately remove snow and ice, or/and do so in a timely manner.

Or, consider a situation in which a party is hit by a train that is crossing. An investigation into the accident shows that crossing arms lowered as they should, and that the accident occurred because the party, who was wearing headphones and on foot at the time of crash, crossed under the warning arms and failed to look for an oncoming train. In this case, the individual who was injured would likely be found liable for their own injuries. If crossing arms would not have lowered, giving no indication that the pedestrian should stop walking, on the other hand, the company responsible for maintaining the crossing arms may be to blame.

Our Attorneys Get to the Bottom of What Happened and Advocate for You

When you call the law offices of Christensen & Hymas, our Salt Lake injury attorneys will open an investigation into your TRAX accident to determine precisely what happened and who was to blame. We can interview eyewitnesses, review maintenance and service logs, view security footage, talk with train operators, and even hire accident reconstruction specialists in order to get to the bottom of what went wrong. If you’ve been injured due to the negligence of another party, we will gladly represent you in your claim for damages to help you recover every cent that you deserve.

To schedule a free consultation with our TRAX accident lawyers in UT, please call us today, or send us a message using the contact form on our website. Our legal team will put your needs first.

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