Louisiana Train Derailment will Likely Lead to Lawsuits by Residents

Following a train derailment in Lafayette, Louisiana early Saturday morning, thousands of gallons of leaked hydrochloric acid caused a toxic cloud to form above the crash site. As a result, residents were evacuated and many people in the area suffered severe skin and eye irritation. As the cleanup continues, those who suffered injuries have already begun contacting local and national toxic tort lawyers to review what potential legal rights may be available.

The train derailment occurred around 2:30 a.m. central time on Saturday, May 17, 2008, when six of the train’s cars rolled off of the tracks. Over 8,000 gallons of acid leaked from two of the cars, causing a yellowish pool to form above the crash site.

Hydrochloric acid is a toxic chemical that can cause severe respiratory problems, skin irritation and eye problems. Over 3,000 Lafayette residents within the evacuation area were forced to leave their homes, including 161 nursing home residents. Those living further from the site of the leak were advised to close their windows and turn off air conditioning to avoid injury.

Sports-Betting-Addiction-Lawsuits
Sports-Betting-Addiction-Lawsuits

The train was operated by BNSF Railway, a Texas rail company. The company has indicated that they will reimburse area residents for hotel and restaurant bills incurred during the evacuation. Those who have suffered physical injury as a result of the leak may also be entitled to a personal injury settlement.


0 Comments


This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Share Your Comments

This field is hidden when viewing the form
I authorize the above comments be posted on this page
Post Comment
Weekly Digest Opt-In

Want your comments reviewed by a lawyer?

To have an attorney review your comments and contact you about a potential case, provide your contact information below. This will not be published.

NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

MORE TOP STORIES

Parties involved in a Dupixent T-cell lymphoma wrongful death lawsuit will participate in an initial status conference in early December, to map out how the litigation will move forward.
A group of plaintiffs are asking a panel of federal judges to consolidate all Lyft lawsuits involving driver sexual assaults against passengers before one judge as part of a Lyft MDL.
Federal regulators warned years ago that mesh implants were never approved for use in breast surgery, yet manufacturers continued marketing them as internal bra devices for reconstruction and cosmetic augmentation.