Potential Defendants in Commercial Vehicle Accident Claims
SNELL vs. BNSF | Verdict: $19,548,380 | San Bernardino, California
Train Accident Injury Victim
Around 4:00a.m. on January 1, 2017, Mr. Snell was run over by two locomotives operated by the crew with whom he was assigned to work. Mr. Snell was clearing debris from a switch when the foreman, who was approximately 480 feet away and unable to see, directed the engineer to initiate a shoving move, running over Mr. Snell. This happened because BNSF violated several federal safety regulations and its own internal rules governing: (1) Protecting the point on a shoving move; (2) Communicating by radio; (3) Job Safety Briefing; and (4) Using the locomotive warning system (light, bells, and whistle).
Mr. Snell’s left foot and four right-hand fingers were crushed and later amputated. His hip and several ribs were fractured, and his lung punctured. His head was lacerated, and he also endured trauma to his right shoulder and right knee. He was under the locomotives for 45 minutes. He never lost consciousness. He has been diagnosed with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The trial lasted 21 court days and the jury deliberated for 6 additional days before rendering a verdict of $19,548,380.00 to compensate Mr. Snell. BNSF’s formal offer to compromise was $3,000,000.00. Mr. Snell refused this offer and the firm took BNSF to trial.
Anthony S. Petru, Victor A. Russo, and Gabriel A. Siniscal of Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson, LLP represented Mr. Snell.