Victims of the Lac-Mégantic train derailment are probable going receive compensations for lost lives, injuries and damages in next summer, reported Toronto Star newly.

Victims of the Lac-Mégantic train disaster have reached a $200-million settlement with some of the parties involved in the 2013 derailment that claimed 47 lives.

Lawyers for the claimants filed a draft compensation plan with the Quebec Superior Court. The deal also requires the approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in May and payments are expected to be distributed to the victims.

The settlement involves the Montreal Maine and Atlantic Canada Co. (MMAC), its insurance carrier, rail-car manufacturers and some oil producers.

“The three defendants — World Fuel Services, Canadian Pacific Railway and Irving Oil — who are not contributing anything to this settlement need to be held responsible. We intend to continue to pursue them in courts.”

Downtown Lac-Mégantic, a small town in Quebec’s Eastern Townships, was decimated in the ensuing blaze and explosions caused by the derailment of an unattended oil tanker train on July 6, 2013. The tragedy has resulted in calls for improved safety in fuel transportation by rail across Canada.

MMAC train engineer Tom Harding, railway traffic controller Richard Labrie and Jean Demaitre, the manager of train operations have each been charged with 47 counts of criminal negligence causing death.

The settlement funds will be split among those who lost their lives, suffered injuries, property and financial damages, as well as insurers affected by the disaster and the governments.

The litigation initiated in the Chicago court allowed the victims to bargain for a much higher compensation than if the same lawsuit were to be filed in Canada because of the monetary caps placed under Canadian laws, said Flowers.

The payouts in the Canadian court would have just reached about half of the amount reached in the U.S. settlement deal, he added.

“In Chicago, there is no such cap. We strongly believe that that fear from these corporations that they were going to face justice in the United States actually drove these numbers to be much higher,” said Flowers to Toronto Star.

He worked on the case along with Texas lawyers Jason Webster and Mitchell Toups.

“On behalf of our clients, we are hopeful that this process can move along, so the grieving process can continue. Hopefully, we can help people move on with their lives the best they can.”

Source: Toronto Star