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 financial compensation for their losses. If you or a loved one has been involved in a train-related accident, contact a North Carolina railroad attorney from Shapiro & Appleton immediately to find out what your legal options are.
Different Types of Train Accidents
Train on Train Crash: When two trains crash on the tracks, the results can be horrific. Because of the massive size of trains, the majority of these crashes often cause catastrophic injuries and death to the victims involved. In many of these accidents, the cause of the crash is determined to be a malfunction in the railroad operation or failure of train operators to communicate.
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Train and Vehicle Crashes: Most vehicle occupants in a train and vehicle crash do not survive. For those who do survive, the injuries are usually devastating. According to national statistics from 2017, there were more than 2,000 train and vehicle crashes, causing the deaths of 274 victims. Data compiled from these types of crashes also show that three out of every four train and vehicle crashes occur within 25 miles of the vehicle driver’s home and half of all crashes take place within five miles of the driver’s home. And when it comes to the survival rate for vehicle drivers involved in train to vehicle crashes, data shows they are more than 20 times more likely to die when their vehicle is hit by a train compared to being hit by another vehicle. Many of these crashes are caused by train operator error or faulting railroad warning equipment.
Derailments: Derailments – when a train runs off track rails – result in some of the deadliest accidents. They can happen if the train hits an object on the track, because of train operator error, or because of poorly maintained tracks. Not only can derailments cause injuries and death to passengers and railroad employees, but they can also cause injuries to people who are in the area of a derailment if the train is transporting hazardous materials.
Common Train Accident Injuries
Although a train-related accident can result in many different types of injuries, the following are the most frequent that our train accident clients come to us with:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Fractured bones
- Amputation
- Disfigurement
- Torn tendons
- Death
Let a North Carolina Railroad Accident Attorney Help You
The law imposes certain legal obligations on common carriers such as railroads in order to protect passengers and the public in general. When there is a failure to use reasonable care on the part of the railroad where the accident occurred, such as conductor or engineer negligence, a train defect, engine mechanical failure, or railroad track defects, choosing legal counsel experienced in North Carolina personal injury litigation is a must.