Train accidents can be extremely severe when they involve a train coming off its track or colliding with another train. However, not all train accidents are so extreme. While some train accidents are pretty severe, involving derailment and multiple fatalities, others are less dramatic. Even minor train accidents can cause injuries to passengers. Most train accidents are preventable and caused by a failure to follow train safety laws. If you were injured while riding or boarding a train due to an accident, you should speak with a Will County train accident attorney immediately. You have a limited amount of time to file a claim.
Train Accidents That Injure Passengers and Others
A few of the more common types of train accidents that lead to injuries include:
- Collisions with railroad debris — Trains sometimes hit debris lying on the tracks. Debris may have been intentionally placed on the tracks by careless individuals wanting to watch an object get hit by a train. Other times, debris, such as fallen trees or branches, lands on the tracks due to a storm. Hitting debris can cause the train to abruptly slow down, causing passengers to fall and get hurt. Passengers who were standing are especially likely to be injured.
- Derailment — Derailments are the most common type of train accident. When a train comes off its track, passenger cars will likely tip over, often causing severe injuries to those inside. Wrongful death cases often stem from derailment accidents.
- Premature movement — Trains should not start moving without adequate notice to passengers. People can be seriously injured if the train suddenly starts moving while passengers are still boarding.
- Collisions with vehicles — Drivers are legally forbidden from stopping on the railroad tracks. However, people do sometimes stop their cars on the train tracks in heavy traffic or when they are pulling up to a red light, expecting it to turn green long before a train comes. Collisions with vehicles that have stopped or stalled on the tracks can be severe.
- Explosions or fires — Mechanical malfunctions can lead to fires or explosions in areas where passengers are present. Part of what makes explosions or fires on trains so risky is that passengers may not have a way to exit the train immediately, especially if the train is suspended on a bridge or in a tunnel.
Contact a Plainfield, IL Train Accidents Attorney
Flaherty Law, LLC is committed to helping people injured in train accidents recover the full compensation they are entitled to. Experienced Will County, IL train accident lawyer Daniel Flaherty is an accomplished trial attorney who is always ready to take your case to trial if necessary. Contact us at 815-860-5702 for a complimentary consultation.