What Are My Rights if I Was Injured in a Train Derailment?

Due to their speed and size, train accidents usually involve a considerable amount of damage. When a train transporting hazardous materials derails, it can lead to explosions, fires, damage to the environment, and costly clear-up efforts. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, derailments are the most common type of train accident, with 135,507 taking place since 1975. If you were […]

Far-Reaching Consequences of Train Derailments

On February 3rd of this year, a 38-car Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Several railcars burned for more than two days, with emergency crews then conducting a controlled burn of several railcars. The fumes caused the release of hydrogen chloride and phosgene into the air, forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents who […]

Commuter Train Derailments: Common Causes and Injuries

In metropolitan areas like Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, public transportation provides an invaluable service. Although convenient, commuter trains can present multiple hazards that most passengers probably don’t even think about. Operators and owners of commuter trains have a duty of care to provide safe passage for those who use them. If injuries or deaths occur in a train derailment […]

Understanding The Serious Public Safety Risks of Train Derailments For Railroad Workers And The Community in General

Injuries resulting from a train derailment can be devastating. Fallen cars, broken glass, and moving objects affected by speed and force are just a few safety hazards for both general public and railroad workers. Injury risks may compound even after the derailment, due to  collisions with a second train, fires, and dangers to pedestrians. In most cases, the reasons for […]

Pursuing Damages in a Train-Related Accident

According to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are approximately 1,000 people injured in train-related accidents each year. Another 300 people are killed. There are many different types of train-related accidents that occur, but they all have one thing in common: Victims who suffer injuries and losses from these accidents can file train accident claims or lawsuits for […]

Why You Need an Experienced Railroad Derailment Lawyer When You Suffer Injuries or Lung Damage From a Train Wreck

No one can feel completely safe when a train goes off the tracks. “Train wreck” did not become shorthand for a disastrous situation for no reason. As Virginia-based railroad injury lawyers for going on 40 years, we have seen firsthand some of the worst results from train derailments. We helped several victims of the Norfolk Southern chemical train crash in […]

NTSB Finds Amtrak Flaws Led to Fatal PA Train Crash

Federal railroad safety investigators concluded last month that a culture of safety lapses at Amtrak is what caused a collision between a passenger train and a backhoe that killed two Amtrak workers and injured 39 outside Philadelphia in April 2016. Federal investigators determined that Amtrak workers at the site lacked critical safety equipment that the railroad required that would have […]

Commuter Rails Systems To Receive Millions to Boost Safety

At least 17 of the top commuter and intercity railroads will receive millions of dollars in funding from the US government to increase rail safety with automatic braking systems that are intended to automatically slow down trains that are in potentially dangerous situations. The Department of Transportation stated last month that it would issue $197 million in funding after commuter […]