Personal Injury
Railroad Crossing Accidents
The Federal Railroad Administration estimates that every 90 minutes there is a train collision or derailment in the United States. For the last decade, there have been approximately 3,000 railroad accidents annually, with nearly 35% of railway crossing accidents involving children under 16. Many of these accidents are avoidable and caused by defective or outdated train equipment, or undertrained or overworked employees. Railroads are self-regulated and a close eye is kept on the bottom line for profit. Very little is done to update technology unless there are several accidents or lawsuits related to a specific crossing. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, more than 80% of public crossings do not have safety lights and gates and 60% of all train accidents happen at these crossings. Other examples of the
railroad's fault in crossing accidents include:
- Obstructed crossing because of vegetation or other objects
- Limited sight distance for vehicle operators or the train
- Trains approaching crossings without lights on and horn sounding
- Unsafe locomotive cab protruding metal or structural parts, weak steel parts, lack of full body protection, poor seats or seats with protruding steel on support brackets.
There are many types of railroad grade crossing accidents. Some affect more than the vehicle driver and train crew. In most cases, when a grade crossing collision occurs, there has been a violation of at least one traffic law. The most common cause of highway-rail collisions is intentional violations of law, because of impatience or inattention. In over 25% of collisions, the vehicle driver runs into the train. Over half of all railroad grade crossing accidents occur at crossings where there are active warning devices.
If you were in a vehicle hit by a train or if you suffered injury as a passenger on a train, please contact us for a free case evaluation.
For more information:
Personal Injury
FAQs
Personal Injury Legal Glossary
Railroad Accident Legal Glossary
Railroad Accident News
Close call (The Potpourri)
Three children narrowly missed serious injury when a railroad maintenance car crashed into the truck they were riding in, Aug. 5.
Woman Critical after Hit by Tree Branch in Queens (1010 WINS New York)
A freak accident in Queens has left a woman in critical condition after a tree branch fell and struck her in the head. The woman was reportedly walking down the sidewalk Sunday around 3:30 p.m. when the branch, about 14-feet long and 10-inches wide, fell from alongside a Long Island Railroad overpass.
Accident in Wyoming injures local man (Park Hills Daily Journal)
A local man suffered severe injuries when a Jeep rolled over on him while on a fishing trip in Wyoming. James Scott Bryan (Bimbo), 38, Park Hills, was fishing with his three sons on July 25 when the Jeep he was driving rolled over on him. According to family members, Bryan suffered a massive spinal chord injury and is now a quadriplegic. One of his sons sustained a broken leg and is expected to ...
Police blotter (Lebanon Daily News)
ACCIDENT: A 17-year-old boy faces charges of driving under the influence, underage drinking and traffic offenses after crashing a pickup truck at 10:30 p.m. yesterday on Werners Road just south of Mountain Drive, state police at Jonestown said.
POLICE BEAT (Daily Journal)
All Items in Police Beat are based on official police reports of events. Reports
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