Practice Areas Personal Injury Train and Railroad Accidents

Train Accident Attorneys Explain Railroad Accidents & Injuries

Trains transport millions of people and tons of cargo across the country daily. Unfortunately, train accidents occur often. Examples of train accidents include, for example, trains hitting automobiles and other vehicles at railroad crossings, train derailments, trains hitting pedestrians, as well trains hitting other trains on the track. When a train accident occurs, many people are often injured including train operators and employees, passengers, and innocent bystanders. 

The experienced train accident attorneys at Banafshe Law Firm, PC represent injured train passengers as well as workers. Our attorneys are experienced in train accident litigation. Contact our office today to discuss your rights and options available to recover the compensation you deserve for the injuries you sustained from a train accident. 

Common Causes of Train Accidents

Train accidents occur for a variety of different reasons such as:

• Negligence of drivers on the road. Sometimes drivers try to beat a train by crossing a railroad track before a train arrives sometimes even after the railroad crossing gates have come down. This is a very dangerous practice especially because trains can be moving much faster than they appear. 

• Human error. Sometimes a train conductor or engineer is negligent in operating a train for reasons such as distractions, driving a train under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and negligently switching tracks, among other reasons.

• Equipment malfunctions. Sometimes equipment breakdown can cause accidents for issues such as faulty brakes, malfunction of warning lights and gates, malfunctioning communication equipment, and defective rails, among other issues. 

Our Train Accident Lawyer Explains the Federal Employees Liability Act

The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) was enacted by Congress to protect and compensate railroad workers who are injured on the job where the railroad was negligent in causing the worker’s injury. FELA offers railroad workers compensation for injuries similar to a workers’ compensation insurance program except FELA requires the injured worker to prove some fault on the part of the railroad. 

If you are a railroad worker injured on duty, the train accident attorneys at Banafshe Law Firm can advocate on your behalf to recover damages and compensation for:

• Injuries
• Past and future pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life
• Past and future loss of earnings
• Past and future medical expenses

Survivors of a deceased railroad worker may be entitled to compensation for their financial loss and pain and suffering of the deceased. Damages are, however, reduced if a railroad worker is determined to have been proportionally at fault or negligent. 

Car Safety at Railroad Intersections

Many car accidents and fatalities that occur at railroad crossings could have been prevented. Below are some safety precautions drivers can take when approaching a railroad crossing:

• Slow down and yield when approaching a crossing. Look and listen carefully for an approaching train.
• When the crossing lights are on or the gate is down, keep your vehicle off the track. 
• Be extra careful when approaching a crossing with multiple tracks as there could be multiple trains approaching. 
• Never try to beat a train and never cross under the crossing gate when it is down.
• If you see a gate or warning signal that is malfunctioning, look for the rail crossing sign and call the toll-free number on the sign to report the problem. 

Contact a Train Accident Attorney at Banafshe Law Firm, PC Today for a Free Case Evaluation

Train injuries can be severe. If you or a loved one sustained injuries from a train contact train accident attorneys at Banafshe Law Firm, PC today for a free consultation. Our attorneys can help. Contact our office today for a free legal consultation. You can reach us 24/7 by calling 800-789-8840 or by completing our online form.