In 2016, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, there were 9,808 railroad accidents in the U.S. in which 762 people were killed and 7,197 were injured. Now, the chances of being involved in a car crash are significantly higher, but in a train accident, the passengers have fully entrusted their lives to the railroad company. Passengers have no control over the operation of the train, its maintenance, or any other aspect. Injured passengers have the right to contact a metro rail accident lawyer in Waldorf, MD.
Train Crashes and Derailments
Operating a train is a tremendous responsibility. In some accidents, the engineer isn’t paying attention, is speeding, or is even intoxicated. Poor maintenance of the train or the tracks can cause accidents, and mechanical failures do occur.
Some of the deadliest train crashes happen because there was miscommunication between the train engineer and the control center, resulting in two trains on the same track. In a derailment, the train jumps off the track, cars tip over and crash into one another. Passengers are thrown around inside the car, impacting at speed with the seats, walls, and ceiling of the car.
Deaths at Railroad Crossings
Railroad crossing accidents fall into a different category than accidents involving only trains. In 2015, there were 2,059 incidents in which a car or truck was hit by a train at a railroad crossing. There were 244 deaths and 967 injuries.
The railroad is at fault for some of these accidents. The crossing gate and lights might not have been functioning. In a few cases, the car or truck stalled on the tracks and the driver couldn’t move it from the tracks. Too often, the driver of the car was trying to beat the train across the crossing and didn’t make it.
It can be difficult to judge the speed of an oncoming train. If a train with 150 cars is traveling at 50 miles per hour–and many trains go faster than that–it will take the train more than a mile to come to a stop. Even if the crossing gate is up, always look for a train before crossing railroad tracks.
Were you injured during your daily commute on the train? Don’t depend on the railroad’s insurance company to compensate you fairly. Consult the Valente Law Group and talk to an experienced metro rail accident lawyer in Waldorf, MD. To schedule a free consultation, visit Website Domain.
