Railroad Injury / Train Accidents

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, each year there are approximately 3,000 train accidents in the U.S. and about 1000 people lose their lives.

The National Transportation Safety Board indicates 60% of all crossing fatalities occur at unprotected crossings and approximately 80% of all public railroad crossings are not protected by lights and safety gates. The most common types of railroad accidents are collisions with other trains, derailments, collisions with passenger vehicles, improperly maintained tracks, mechanical failure and driver inexperience and fatigue.

Here are some statistics regarding railroad accidents:

1. Every 90 minutes there is a train collision or derailment.
2. A train carrying hazardous material goes off the tracks approximately every 2 weeks in the United States.
3. Railroads are essentially self-regulated and do come under the close scrutiny of the Federal government.
4. Rail companies continue to rely on technology that was developed over 70 years ago and very little effort has been made to update safety measures.
5. Local jurisdictions often have no control over the train travel in their area resulting in delays for local emergency response to catastrophic situations in the community. This basically means that the fire trucks will have to wait while a trans continental freight train passes!
6. More than 50% of all railroad accidents occur at unprotected crossings, and according to the Federal Railroad Administration, over 80% of railroad crossings don't have adequate warning devices.
7. Statistics may show that although "vehicle v. train collisions" have decreased in the last few years, "pedestrian v. train collisions" have increased.

What if I am employed by a railroad company?

Congress passed special federal legislation to protect railroad employees and make the industry less hazardous. This legislation is known as the Federal Employers Liability Act ("FELA"), the Federal Safety Appliance Act and the Boiler Inspection Act. Each of these acts provides liberal remedies and compensation to injured railroad employees. Under each of these laws an employee may be entitled to damages including past and future medical care; past and future wage loss; disability and disfigurement; and pain and suffering. We will work closely with our clients to help identify the precise amount of damages in order to maximize the recovery in each case. We recognize that loses suffered are significant and unique to each client and each their family. However, many of the railroad companies try to prevent or minimize the recovery of injured employees. This is why if you have been injured while working for a railroad company, it is very important to get high quality legal advice immediately. If you have any questions about a possible claim, please feel free to contact me. I would be more than happy to discuss any concerns and advise you. Please fill out the form below or call for an immediate response from me.

Telephone: (314) 276-1681 or
Toll Free: 1-800-685-3302