Railroad Crossing Accident & Injury
Railroad crossings can be extremely dangerous and can change your life and the life of loved ones forever. Catastrophic injuries and death may result from being in a train accident. Vehicle occupants and pedestrians are among the victims of railroad crossing accidents. A large portion of RR crossings in the United States still do not have gates, which are highly effective at warning pedestrians and cars to stay away from the tracks. The railroad crossing accident lawyers at Davis, Bethune & Jones, LLC work with railroaders, crash victims and their families to recover funds for medical expenses, lost income, rehabilitation, pain and suffering. In many cases, the negligent party is forced to pay compensation to victims.
Causes of Railroad Crossing Accidents
- Safety violations
- Lack of lights and gates at crossings
- Failure of lights and gates
- Failure to use horn
- Blocked train engineer vision, poor crossing maintenance
- Defective train equipment
- Outdated train and railroad equipment
- Fatigued employees
- Inadequate training of employees
RR Crossing Accident Settlements & Verdicts Won By Our Firm
- On March 11, 2003, Kansas City attorney Thomas C. Jones reached a $12.5 million settlement with Union Pacific in a lawsuit involving a collision between one of its freight trains and a motorist at a railroad crossings in Lafayette County, Ark. This is the largest settlement of a railroad crossing collision case in the history of the State of Arkansas.
- In December 1995, Chris Twenter, 42 was in his work van and was struck by a high-speed Amtrak train at a grade crossing. Amtrak and Union Pacific were sued for wrongful death, and $1.9 million settlement was won for the victim's family.
- A 34-year-old woman who was severely injured in a railroad crossing accident won a $160 million verdict in Jackson County circuit court against Union Pacific and Amtrak.
- $1.9 million settlement awarded to family of man who was killed in a 1997 railroad crossing accident. They sued Union Pacific and Amtrak.
Legal Help for Railroad Accident Victims
Railroad employees who are in railyard or other train-related accidents can seek compensation against their employer under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). FELA allows a railway employee to seek relief for medical expenses, loss of income or earning potential, partial or permanent injury, and suffering caused by their misfortune. For both employees and non-employees, there is a strict statute of limitation for filing claims. FELA cases must brought within three years of the accident date. If you were in an accident involving a train or track operated and owned by a government entity, you may have as little as six months to notify the government of your intention to file a claim. Otherwise, you may be denied the right to seek damages.
Railroad Industry Headlines
Because the laws governing railroad accidents are complex, it is recommended that victims seek qualified and experienced legal representation to maximize the chances of winning an adequate settlement or compensation. Get a free legal consultation by calling our railroad crossing accident lawyers at 1-800-875-5972 or by filling out the form at the right.
