Thursday, May 12 marked the one-year anniversary of the Amtrak 188 derailment that took place in Frankfort. Sadly, on that day, eight people suffered fatal injuries while over 200 others suffered serious harms. The National Transportation Safety Board reported that the Amtrak train reached speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour before derailing on a curve near Frankford Junction.
Still, a mystery remains. Even now, researchers cannot identify the exact cause of the accident or any circumstances leading up to the tragic event. The engineer of Amtrak 188 states that his memory of that evening remains foggy. As of now, no criminal charges have been filed. However, cameras have been installed throughout the cabs of locomotives so that the performance of engineers can be monitored.
New Technologies That Can Prevent Amtrak Accidents
Recently, many individuals have called into question Amtrak’s failure to use the Positive Train Control system during the time of the accident. Many persons believe that if this technology was implemented in that area, the crash could have been completely avoided. Experts state that this technology is capable of stopping or slowing Amtrak trains in order to prevent them from entering established work zones, colliding with other trains, derailing, and improper steering in areas where tracks merge.
Why Have These Technologies Not Been Implemented?
Congress had originally set a deadline to have these technologies installed no later than December 31, 2015. However, when Congress discovered this process would cost much more and be a much larger undertaking than they had originally planned, government officials extended the deadline to December 31, 2018. With late timing, the Positive Train Control system was completed at the area of the fatal accident just 7 months after the tragic event had occurred.
While lawmakers are working diligently to improve Amtrak train safety, Amtrak remains under scrutiny for derailments, collisions, and other types of accidents that have taken place recently.
Was Someone You Love in an Amtrak Accident? Call Our Legal Team.
If you or someone you love has been involved in an Amtrak accident or any other type of train collision, get in touch with a Philadelphia train accident lawyer from Shrager, Sachs, & Blanco right away. When you entrust our team with your case, we will take the time to examine the intricacies of your case and determine who should be held responsible for your injuries. These types of cases are time-sensitive, so it is important you seek experienced legal counsel as soon as possible.
To discuss your case with a Philadelphia train accident attorney, call our team or fill out a case evaluation form right away. We are backed by years of experience!
