Montana Amtrak Train Derailment Injury Claims

Colburn Law

Posted in Personal Injury on September 30, 2021

Three people were killed and at least 50 others have been injured after an Amtrak train derailed in Montana on Saturday September 25th 2021. According to authorities, eight cars on an Empire Builder train had derailed at about 4 p.m. local time near Joplin, Montana. There were about 141 passengers on board and another 16 crew members.

Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator for Hill County, Montana Amanda Frickel told the New York Times that rescuers from six counties were responding to the scene. After the incident, there were as many as five hospitals on standby to receive injured passengers and assist with evacuation efforts. Although officials are still determining the cause for the derailment, present details seem to indicate that Amtrak bears some responsibility for damages incurred from the incident.

Injured? Contact Colburn Law

If you or a loved one was injured in the Montana train derailment, contact Colburn Law today for a free case evaluation. Our team of personal injury lawyers understand how tragic such an accident is and we want to hold all parties responsible. We will fight to help you recover maximum compensation. If you were a victim, contact Colburn Law immediately – we are available 24/7.

Amtrack CEO Bill Flynn released the following statement regarding the Amtrak train derailment on Saturday:

“We are in mourning today for the people who lost their lives due to the derailment of the Empire Builder train Saturday, near Joplin, Montana, on the BNSF Railway, as well as the many others who were injured. We have no words that can adequately express our sorrow for those who lost a loved one or who were hurt in this horrible event. They are in our thoughts and prayers.

We are fully cooperating with the investigation, working closely with National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Railroad Administration, local law enforcement and response agencies. We share the sense of urgency to understand why the accident happened; however, until the investigation is complete, we will not comment further on the accident itself. The NTSB will identify the cause or causes of this accident, and Amtrak commits to taking appropriate actions to prevent a similar accident in the future. 

Amtrak’s immediate and sustained focus is on doing everything we can to help our passengers and crew, especially the families of those who were injured or died, at this painful and difficult time. Our Incident Response Team has been initiated. We have sent emergency personnel and Amtrak leadership to the scene to help support our passengers, our employees and their families with their needs. Individuals with questions about their family and friends aboard this train should call 800-523-9101. We have also established a Family Assistance Center in Great Falls, MT, and we will have family assistance liaisons at that site to reach out to those injured and their families to make sure they get what they need. We have dispatched nurse case managers to support those hospitalized. As soon as Amtrak has permission, we will access the accident site to retrieve the personal effects of our passengers and crew.  

We want to extend our deep gratitude and sincere appreciation to the Joplin and greater Liberty County communities and other Montana counties and their selfless first responders, hospital staff and law enforcement for their immediate and ongoing help to support of all those aboard the Empire Builder for responding with such urgency, compassion and patience.”

The Federal Railroad Administration Deputy Administrator Amit Rose released the following statement regarding the Amtrak train derailment that happened Saturday:

“The Federal Railroad Administration extends our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and our sincerest hopes for the full and speedy recovery of those injured as a result of the derailment of Amtrak’s Empire Builder Train #7. Our number one focus is safety and we are committed to taking all steps necessary to prevent a similar event from occurring again.

The Federal Railroad Administration is investigating this incident which occurred on Saturday, September 25, 2021 while Amtrak’s Empire Builder Train #7 was operating westbound from Chicago, IL to Seattle, WA on BNSF Railway track. Several coaches derailed approximately 3 miles west of Joplin, which is approximately 100 miles north of Great Falls, in the vicinity of Buelow, MT, with approximately 13 crew and 141 passengers on board.

Specifically, FRA has mobilized a team of 18 individuals dispatched to the scene consisting of technical experts from core safety disciplines including track, motive power & equipment, signal and train control, and operating practices. We have initiated a thorough forensic investigation and analysis in support of the National Transportation Safety Board examining all potential causal and contributing factors.”