Railroad Accident Lawyer Trial-Ready Representation in Los Angeles and Chicago
For train crash and railroad worker injuries and wrongful death — trial-ready representation. No fee unless we win.
Recovered for Our Clients
Every case built for trial, not for a quick settlement.
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Railroad Accident Lawyer — Trial-Ready Representation in Los Angeles and Chicago
Railroad accidents don't happen slowly. A collision at a crossing, a derailment, a pedestrian struck by a commuter train — the violence is sudden, and the injuries are catastrophic. Traumatic brain injuries. Spinal cord damage. Amputations. Wrongful death.
What follows is just as brutal: a railroad corporation with its own legal team, its own investigators, and its own agenda — already working to limit your recovery before you've left the hospital.
At The Law Offices of Haytham Faraj, we represent railroad accident victims and their families in Los Angeles and Chicago. We take these cases to trial when insurers and railroad companies refuse to pay what the case is worth. No upfront cost. No fee unless we recover for you.
If you were injured in a train or railroad accident, the clock is already running. Call us now for a free case evaluation.
Why Railroad Accident Cases Are Different — and Why That Matters
Railroad accident litigation is not standard personal injury work. The legal landscape is more complex, the defendants are better resourced, and the evidence window closes faster than in almost any other case type.
Freight railroads, commuter rail operators, and transit authorities employ full-time defense teams. They begin investigating the moment an accident occurs — often before emergency responders have cleared the scene.
Depending on how the accident occurred and who was involved, your claim may intersect with federal statutes including the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), the Federal Railroad Safety Act, or federal preemption doctrines that limit state law claims.
Train event recorders (the railroad equivalent of a black box), surveillance footage, maintenance logs, crew communications, and track inspection records are all controlled by the railroad.
Railroad companies and their insurers often contact victims or families within hours of an accident, seeking recorded statements and quick settlements that release all future claims.
Common Causes of Railroad Accidents — and Who Is Liable
When a motorist attempts to cross ahead of an approaching train, the results are often fatal. Trains cannot stop quickly — a fully loaded freight train traveling at 55 mph requires over a mile to stop.
Brake malfunctions, defective track, failed signal systems, malfunctioning crossing gates, and faulty communication equipment are all documented causes of railroad accidents.
Engineer or conductor negligence — distracted operation, impairment, failure to follow safety protocols, speeding, or improper response to track conditions — is a documented cause of derailments and collisions.
Broken rails, misaligned switches, inadequate maintenance, and substandard roadbed construction have caused some of the most catastrophic derailments on record.
Pedestrians struck at crossings or along rail corridors represent a significant portion of railroad fatalities.
What to Do After a Railroad Accident — Protecting Your Rights Immediately
The steps you take in the hours and days following a railroad accident directly affect the strength of your case. Here is what matters most.
The railroad's investigation team is already working. Do not assume that authorities or the railroad company will document evidence in your favor — their interest is in minimizing liability.
Do not give recorded statements to railroad company representatives, their insurers, or investigators before speaking with an attorney.
If your vehicle was struck at a crossing or involved in the accident, notify your insurance carrier promptly to preserve your coverage.
The evidence window in railroad cases is shorter than in almost any other type of accident litigation.
Results that speak to what's possible
Verdict in Los Angeles, CA for a woman who suffered a broken leg and traumatic brain injury when she was hit by an SUV while on her moped.
Verdict against the City of Los Angeles for a man struck on the head by a falling metal object, resulting in TBI and trauma-induced dementia.
Verdict in Lancaster, CA for a man severely injured in a head-on collision, leaving him and his young sons with lifelong debilitating impacts.
These results came from cases where we refused to accept the first number. We built the case, assembled the experts, and made clear we were prepared to go the distance. Insurance companies track which attorneys actually try cases. We are on that list.
Why Referring Attorneys Send Railroad Accident Cases to Faraj Law
If you are an attorney with a railroad accident case that exceeds your firm's trial capacity or falls outside your litigation infrastructure, we accept referrals and co-counsel arrangements on a transparent, ethical basis.
Railroad cases are resource-intensive. They require immediate evidence preservation, expert witnesses in railroad operations and federal safety regulations, FELA analysis where applicable, and a credible trial threat that forces railroad companies to negotiate seriously rather than stall. Settlement mills do not have this infrastructure. General practitioners rarely do.
We do.
Our trial record spans 80+ jury and bench trials across federal, state, and military courts. We have litigated against well-funded institutional defendants — cities, government agencies, corporations — and secured verdicts they were not willing to offer at the negotiating table. That same credibility travels into every railroad case we handle.
For referring attorneys: your client relationship is protected. Referral fees are paid promptly and transparently per applicable bar rules. You stay informed at every stage. If you have a catastrophic railroad injury case that needs trial-ready co-counsel, call us to discuss it.
What Full Compensation Looks Like in a Railroad Accident Case
Railroad accident injuries are often permanent. The compensation your case can recover must reflect not just your current losses — but the full lifetime impact of what happened.
We pursue every available category of damages:
Medical expenses: Emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, ongoing treatment, medical equipment, and future care needs projected by life care planning experts
Lost income and earning capacity: Wages lost during recovery, and the full projection of career earnings lost if the injury prevents return to work
Pain and suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, and the daily reality of living with a serious injury
Loss of enjoyment of life: The activities, relationships, and quality of life the injury has taken from you
Wrongful death damages: For families who have lost a loved one — funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship and consortium
Punitive damages: In cases of gross negligence or willful safety violations, courts may award additional damages to punish the railroad and deter future misconduct
We work with life care planners, economic experts, and medical specialists to document future damages with the precision that insurance companies and juries require. We do not settle for today's bills when the injury will cost far more over a lifetime.
The Faraj Law Approach: Trial-Ready from Day One
Every case we accept is prepared as if it will go to trial. Not because every case goes to trial — but because railroad companies and their insurers know which attorneys will actually try a case, and they negotiate accordingly.
Firms that process high volumes of claims and settle quickly are known quantities to railroad defense teams. They receive low offers because the railroad knows the attorney will take it. We are not that firm.
Haytham Faraj is a retired Marine Corps Major, former Senior Defense Counsel, and a board member and senior faculty member of the Gerry Spence Method at Thunderhead Ranch, Wyoming — a trial training program that shapes the country's most committed courtroom advocates. He has tried over 80 cases across military, federal, and state courts. He has litigated against the City of Los Angeles, the federal government, and corporate defendants with unlimited legal resources. He does not settle cases because it is convenient. He settles when the offer reflects the true value of the case — and goes to trial when it does not.
That posture is what separates a $250,000 settlement from a seven-figure verdict.
Free Case Evaluation — No Fee Unless We Win
If you or someone you love was injured in a railroad accident, you have the right to full compensation. You also have a limited window to preserve the evidence that makes that possible.
The Law Offices of Haytham Faraj serves railroad accident victims and families in Los Angeles, Chicago, and throughout California and Illinois. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis: no upfront cost, no hourly billing, no attorney fee unless we recover for you.