One individual approximately every hour and a half perishes each day in the United States because of a train accident. Across the United States nearly 300,000 railroad crossings exist, yet 80% of these public crossings are not equipped with gates, crossing lights, bridges, functioning warning systems or other safety features to prevent motorists and pedestrians from lethal train encounters. Additionally, many railroad crossings intersect the tracks at a point sandwiched by blind curves, making it exceptionally difficult to visually determine whether there is an oncoming train or not.

A collision between a moving train and a passenger vehicle, bicycle or pedestrian is always devastating. While it is true that trains may derail and cause great a great amount of property damage, car passengers, bike riders and those traveling on foot, when involved in a train accident will most likely die or at the very least sustain severe and disabling injuries with consequences such as comas, paralysis or serious brain injury. Most train accidents not occurring at high-risk railroad crossings are caused by, fully or partially, railway track defects, faulty train equipment, technical issues, malfunctioning crossing signals and driver distraction or exhaustion. The injuries most commonly sustained to those involved in train accidents include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, limb loss and amputations, organ damage, burns, torn muscles and connective tissues and broken, crushed or fractured bones.

Sadly, more than half of all train accidents do take place at these unsafe and vulnerable railroad crossings and motorists and pedestrians are often mistakenly held at fault even when adequate warnings were lacking. What is more difficult is that many of these unsafe railroad crossings are located economically depressed rural areas and involve residents without the financial means to pay for the extensive medical and rehabilitation expenses necessary for survivors. If you have been the victim of a train accident, or know someone who has it is important to seek the counsel of a personal injury lawyer experienced with your specific type of train accident situation and can apply their expertise to assist you in going up against a large railroad and train companies, who are infamous for their denial of responsibility at railroad crossings. An experienced train accident lawyer can help you and your family to receive both the full amount due to you from insurance companies and assist you in filing any necessary lawsuits to recover general and punitive damages.