San Diego Trolley Accident Lawyer

San Diego is home to the nation’s oldest trolley system. The Red Trolley runs on three lines - Blue, Orange, and Green - and connects downtown San Diego with popular destinations in and around the city. While the trolley can be a great way for residents, workers, and tourists to navigate San Diego, it’s not always the safest. Since 2020, more than 50 trolley accidents have been recorded across the city, many of which have resulted in serious injuries and deaths.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a trolley accident in San Diego, California, it’s imperative to call Singleton Schreiber. You may be entitled to compensation from the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), the trolley operator, or another negligent party. Our San Diego trolley accident lawyers can offer the support, strength, and experience you’ll need to win your case and maximize your financial recovery.

At Singleton Schreiber, we’re known as fearless legal advocates who aren’t afraid to take on government agencies, multinational corporations, and powerful adversaries on behalf of California injury victims and families. Honored as top litigators by Best Lawyers in America, Law Dragon 500, and the San Diego Business Journal, we’ve won more than $3 billion in damages on behalf of our deserving clients.

Today, we’re prepared to help you fight for financial justice after a devastating trolley accident, too. Call our personal injury lawyers in San Diego to schedule a free consultation.

What Causes Trolley Accidents in San Diego?

San Diego’s trolley system spans more than 65 miles and connects more than 62 separate light rail stations. Trolley cars run every 15 minutes - sometimes more often during rush hour. Most trolley rides unfold without incident. However, sometimes, trolleys are involved in serious accidents, most of which happen because of avoidable mistakes and errors.

Some of the most commonly cited causes of San Diego trolley accidents include:

• Operator inattention
• Braking and stopping errors
• Operating a trolley under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Negligent hiring, training, and/or supervision of trolley operators
• Negligent track and infrastructure maintenance
• Operator fatigue

In these cases, the trolley operator or MTS, which is responsible for trolley operations in San Diego, would be liable for resulting accidents, injuries, and deaths. 

However, there are also times when third-party conduct can contribute to or cause trolley accidents. Common factors include:

• Defective or faulty trolley equipment
• Passenger negligence
• Pedestrians or vehicles stopped on trolley tracks
• Driver distraction, speeding, or aggression
• Defective trolley tracks and/or crossing barriers

In California, anyone who contributes to a trolley accident can be liable for damages. So, if a pedestrian, a driver of a passenger vehicle, a property owner, or a trolley car manufacturer plays a role in causing an accident with one of San Diego’s trolleys, they can be held accountable.

How Much is My San Diego Trolley Accident Case Worth?

As a victim, you may have the right to take legal action to help you navigate the resulting costs and consequences of your trolley accident. 

The value of your trolley accident claim will depend on many factors, including:

• The type and severity of physical injuries you’ve sustained
• Available insurance benefits and policy limits
• Liability for the trolley accident
• Comparative fault
• Your age, earning capacity, and life expectancy
• Resulting disability, permanence of such injury(ies), or death
• Out-of-pocket costs incurred as a result of the trolley accident

Trolley accidents are known for causing severe physical trauma, including bone fractures, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns, amputated limbs, and nerve damage. The more extensive your physical injuries, the more the trolley accident will affect your life financially, emotionally, and physically. By extension, the more you can usually expect to receive in a compensatory award from the MTS or another liable party.

Working with an experienced California trolley accident attorney in San Diego can help you ensure that you’re properly compensated for your injuries, costs, and suffering. Call Singleton Schreiber to discuss the details of your trolley accident case today.

How Do I Win a Trolley Accident Lawsuit in San Diego?

Most trolley accidents happen because of someone’s negligence. Negligence-based lawsuits are typically based on a “reasonable person” standard. However, trolleys are common carriers, so trolley operators and the MTS are held to higher standards.

In California, trolleys have to exercise the highest degree of care when transporting passengers from one station to the next. Anything less than the actions of an extremely careful person can be considered negligent and, in turn, cause the trolley service to be liable for resulting damages.

So, when you file a personal injury lawsuit against the MTS or a negligent trolley operator in San Diego, you have to prove:

• The MTS or its operator owed you a duty of care
• They breached this duty by failing to exercise “the utmost care and diligence for their safe carriage.”
• The failure to exercise due caution caused a trolley accident in which you were injured or experienced a family member’s wrongful death, and
• You’ve suffered damages

Our trolley and mass transit accident attorneys in San Diego, CA, can help you build a winning legal claim. We’ll investigate your trolley accident, gather relevant evidence, consult expert witnesses, and work to build a comprehensive and winning lawsuit on your behalf. If the MTS or another defendant refuses to take responsibility for the trolley accident and make you a fair settlement, our award-winning California trial attorneys will be prepared to fight for your best interests in court.

Call Singleton Schreiber For Help After a Trolley Accident in San Diego, CA

If your trolley ride in San Diego turned catastrophic, don’t hesitate to call Singleton Schreiber. Our San Diego trolley accident attorneys can offer the experience and resources you’ll need to take on the Metropolitan Transit System and win a life-changing monetary award.

Different rules apply when you’re suing a government agency like the MTS. You’ll have a very short window of time in which you can file a legal claim for damages, so you must take prompt action. If you miss the filing deadline, which is six months from the date of your trolley accident, you’ll lose the ability to get the compensation you need and deserve.

At Singleton Schreiber, we’ve helped injury victims and families win billions in personal injury settlements and jury verdicts. Now, we’re ready to invest our national resources into your fight for compensation, too.

Contact our San Diego law office for help today. Your first case evaluation is free.