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 Many of these accidents are avoidable and caused by defective or outdated train equipment, or undertrained or overworked employees.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:
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Personal Injury Legal Glossary
Railroad Accident Legal Glossary
Railroad Accident News
Accident results in injury, damage at railroad crossing (Olney Daily Mail)
A one-vehicle accident occurred at around 1 p.m. Saturday at the CSX railroad crossing at Ill. 250 in Noble. A Richland County Sheriff's Department officer at the scene said there was no train involved. The driver was injured, although the extent of the injuries was not yet known. The officer said CSX personnel were set to arrive at the scene.
Lawsuit Filed Against Hulcher Services, Inc. for Rail Yard Amputation Accident (PRWeb via Yahoo! News)
The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll today filed suit against Hulcher Services, Inc., alleges a slippery crane surface as cause of accident which lead to the eventual amputation of worker's toes
Railroad company ordered to pay $4 million penalty for environmental damage from wreck (The Greenville News)
A railroad company responsible for a deadly 2005 chemical accident in Graniteville must pay a $4 million penalty for damage to creeks, lakes and forests caused by the train wreck and chlorine leak.
Officials deal with accident, two fires (The Morning Sun)
Local emergency responders were busy this weekend with two structure fires and injury accident. At around 5:45 p.m. Sunday, Crawford County Sheriff’s Department responded to a structure fire at 1311 N. Main Street, just west of the Pittsburg city limits.
San Joaquin County hopes to make road north of Lodi safer (Lodi News
It will take more than six years, but San Joaquin County officials hope a dangerous part of Lower Sacramento Road will be straightened out to make the road safer under a narrow underpass.
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