Train Crash

A train crash can happen at any time and, because of the size of the train, can have devastating consequences. The people on the train at the time of the train wreck could face serious, life-threatening injuries. Those who live near rail lines face injury if there is a train derailment involving a freight train. People who regularly drive across train tracks face tragic consequences if their vehicle collides with a train. Finally, people who work in train yards or on trains may face work-related injuries.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis, in 2009 there were 661 fatal accidents or incidents involving 708 fatalities. In all, there were 10,886 total accidents or incidents involving trains. Of the fatalities, approximately 250 were highway-rail fatalities, in which a rail user and a highway user collided. Approximately 450 deaths were linked to "other" incidents, which include events that caused a death, injury or occupational illness, or trespassers on railroad property.

The Federal Railroad Administration's Office of Safety Analysis reports that there were 12,771 railroad-related accidents, resulting in approximately 800 deaths and approximately 8,900 non-fatal injuries in 2008.

Personal injuries that result from a train crash include spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury, head injury, neck injuries, broken bones, amputation of limbs, burn injuries, respiratory problems and eye injuries. Train accidents can be deadly; those who survive their train accident may face years of medical treatment and rehabilitation. They may also find they are unable to work and have to cope with loss of income.

People who ride commuter trains to work could also be victims of train crashes. A June 22, 2009, crash took the lives of nine people and injured dozens of others. The crash occurred when one Metro train in Washington crashed into the back end of another train during the evening rush hour commute.

It is not only passengers who could be hurt in train crashes. Railroad workers who are injured on the job may be eligible for a FELA (Federal Employers' Liability Act) claim. Injuries associated with working on trains or in train yards include respiratory disease, repetitive motion injuries and injuries caused by collisions or other train incidents.

There are many reasons a train accident occurs. These include negligence on the part of the train conductor, improper crossing signals, inadequate train security, collision between two trains, collision with another vehicle, mechanical failure, equipment failure and improper track maintenance.

Train Crash Legal Help

If you have been seriously injured or a loved one has been injured or killed in a train crash, please click the link below to send your story to a lawyer who will review your claim at no cost or obligation.

Last updated on Jun-19-10