Train & Light-Rail Accident Lawyer in California
Train and light-rail collisions carry enormous force, and the injuries are often severe. These cases can involve a rail operator, a maintenance company, or a public transit agency — and because a government entity is frequently involved, the deadline to act can be much shorter than usual. Railroads also respond quickly and are heavily defended, so acting early to preserve evidence matters. We handle California train, light-rail, and crossing claims. Se habla español.
Were you hurt in a train accident?
Start with a quick, confidential case review — about two minutes, no cost, no obligation.
What to do after a train accident in California
Get medical care right away — train and rail injuries are often serious. Make sure the police make a report, and note the operator or transit agency, the train or line, the location, and the crossing if there was one. Photograph the scene, the crossing signals and gates, and your injuries, and get names and numbers for any witnesses. Do not give recorded statements to a railroad's claims representative or an insurer, and do not sign anything, before you have advice. Because railroads send investigators to a scene quickly and control key evidence — including the train's event recorder — and because a transit agency claim can carry a short deadline, it is important to act fast.
How we handle your California train claim
You focus on healing; we handle the rest. We identify who is responsible — a rail operator, a maintenance or signal company, a transit agency, or a driver — and we move quickly to preserve the evidence, including crossing-signal data and the train's recorder, before it is lost. Where a public transit agency is involved, we protect the short deadline that applies. We deal with the railroad and the insurers so you do not have to. Every train matter starts with a free, confidential review. Se habla español.
Why work with Woods Law Group
Railroad and transit cases are heavily defended — railroads have rapid-response investigators and experienced legal teams, and transit agencies are protected by short claim deadlines and special rules. Having an attorney who will move quickly to preserve evidence and protect your deadline makes a real difference. We take these cases on a contingency basis for clients we represent, which means no fee unless we recover, and we advance the costs. You get straight answers, real communication, and a firm that treats your recovery as the priority.
How much is my train accident case worth? →
Common train accident cases we handle in California
- Who Is Liable For A Train Accident
- Railroad Crossing Accidents
- Pedestrian Struck By Train
- Light Rail And Commuter Train Accidents
- Train Passenger Injuries
- Malfunctioning Crossing Signals And Gates
- Transit Agency Claims
- Settlement Value
Dealing with the insurance company
California deadlines and fault rules
California train injuries can involve a rail operator, a maintenance company, or a public transit agency, and each raises different rules. The deadline to file most injury claims is generally two years — but when a public transit agency is involved, a government claim generally must be filed within about six months, a much shorter window. California follows pure comparative fault. Crossing collisions may turn on faulty signals, poor visibility, or a malfunctioning gate, and federal railroad rules can also come into play.
- Filing deadlines (statute of limitations)
- Comparative fault in California
- Claims against a government agency
- Evidence that builds your claim
California injury law: deadlines, fault and caps
California injury law shapes your case in a few specific ways worth knowing early.
- Filing deadline: You generally have two years from the date of the injury to file — and only about six months to put a government entity on notice before you can sue.
- Fault: California follows pure comparative negligence, so you can still recover even if you were partly — or mostly — at fault, with your recovery reduced by your share of the blame.
- Damage caps: An ordinary California injury case has no cap on damages; medical-malpractice claims are the main exception.
- Uninsured drivers: California sets minimum auto-insurance limits and uninsured/underinsured-motorist rules that affect what coverage is available.
Free tools and guides
- Train accident FAQs
- Settlement & deadline calculators
- Free downloadable guides
- Checklists
- Calculators & estimators
- Side-by-side comparisons
- Questions & answers
Articles
Frequently asked questions
The train was run by a public transit agency. Is my deadline shorter?
Very likely. When a public transit agency is involved, a government claim generally must be filed within a much shorter window than an ordinary injury claim — often a matter of months. Missing it can bar the claim, which is why it is critical to act quickly and get advice early.
The railroad already contacted me. What should I do?
Be careful. Railroads send investigators and claims representatives quickly, and their job is to limit the railroad's exposure. You are generally not required to give a recorded statement, and it is wise to get advice before speaking with them or signing anything.
How much does a train accident lawyer cost?
We handle these cases on a contingency basis for cases we take, which means no fee unless we recover, and the initial review is always free. These cases can be expensive to build, and we advance the costs. Cost should never stop you from finding out where you stand.
Ready to find out where you stand?
The case review takes about two minutes. It's free and confidential, with no obligation.