Accidents at Railroad Crossings Have Tragic Consequences

Let’s be f

nk.

moto

vehicle does not st

nce in

collision

ith

d c

ossing. Tins e utte

ly m

ssive vehicles

nd even

hen tveling

t slo

speeds, they

ill

lmost

ys demolish c

nd t

ucks in

csh

nd, most likely, inflict c

ophic o

l inju

ies to the d

ive

nd p

ssenge

d c

ossing

ccidents like these should neve

, eve

ppen. S

dly, ho

eve

, they do—mo

e often th

n you might im

gine. In this blog post,

e t

look

t ho

these de

dly, p

event

ble

ccidents h

ppen,

ho’s often to bl

me fo

them,

nd hon expe

ienced <

ef=”https://c

inju

yvictims.com

“>pe

son

l inju

y lye

> c

n help

d c

ossing csh victims obt

in the compens

tion they dese

ve.

il
o
d C
ossing
ccident D
t

d c

ossing

ccidents h

ppen

ith t

oubling f

equency—f

e often th

n most people might believe.

The <

ef=”https://s

fetyd

.f.dot.gov

OfficeofS

fety

Def

ult.

spx”

el="nofollo

“>Fede

dministtion Office of S

fety

lysis (OS

)<> publishes d

on c

ossing collisions,

nd they’

e nothing sho

t of shocking. Conside

just

tistics:

-level=”1″>In the most
ecent
epo
ting ye, the
e
e
e
t le
st 1,900

il
o
d c
ossing incidents n
tion
ide,
hich

s
dec
e
se f
om the p
io
th
ee yes, e
ch of
hich s mo
e th
n 2,000 incidents.<
li>
i
-level="1">Those 1,900 il
o
d-c
ossing incidents
esulted in
t le
st 197 f
t
lities,
nd
t le
st 684 inju
ies.<
li>
i
-level="1">Fo
the fou
most
ecent
epo
ting ye

s, Tex
s led the n
tion in the numbe
of il
o
d c
ossing
ccidents, follo
ed by C
lifo
ni

nd Flo
id
. Gene

lly spe
king, the southe
ste
n st
tes (including Tex
s
nd Flo
id
) h
d the highest tot
ls of

il
o
d c
ossing
ccidents in the n
tion.<
li>
i
-level="1">In Tex
s
lone,
t le
st 12 people died
nd
t le
st 61 people suffe
ed non-f
t
l inju
ies in

il
o
d c
ossing
ccidents in the most
ecent
epo
ting ye.<
li>

These

e just some selected d

points. No m

tte

you slice the OS

tistics, il

d-c

ossing

ccidents t

stunning

nd dev

ting toll

oss the n

tion eve

y ye

il
o
d C
ossing
ccident C
uses<
h2>
Did you kno
? The
ve

ge
eight of
lo
ded tin c is <
h
ef="https:
/
.bts.gov
chive/public
tions
t

nspo
t
tion_st
tistics_
nnu
l_
epo
t
2003/ch
pte
_02/

ilc

_
eights"
el=”nofollo
">ove
60 tons >. You
c

m
y not even
eigh
single ton! The
eight diffe
ence bet
een these t
o vehicles is eno
mous, me
ning thei
collisions h
ve c
t
st
ophic
esults. <
h
ef="https:
/
.st
tesm
n.com
ne
s
20170310/ho
-long-does-it-t
ke-to-stop-
-tin-it-depends-on-sevel-f
cto
s"
el=”nofollo
">Tins usu
lly c
nnot stop quickly<>.
t

in conducto
m
y see vehicles on
c
ossing f

up the line
nd neve
theless be un
ble to
void
collision. This m
kes the p
ope
functioning of

il
o
d c
ossing sign
ls ext
emely impo
t
nt to p
event inju
ies
nd de
th. Unfo
tun
tely, only
bout <
h
ef=”https://
.pe
t
usts.o
g/en/
esech-
nd-
n
lysis/blogs/st
teline
2016/03/31/de
dly-il
o
d-c
ossings-ch
llenge-st
tes#:~:text=The
e%20e%20
oughly%20128%2C000%20public,

e%20linked%20to%20t

ffic%20sign
ls."
el=”nofollo
">one-thi
d of
ll il
o
d c
ossings > in the U.S. h
ve g
tes
nd lights,
hich e genelly
ecognized
s the most effective fo
ms of
utom
ted sign
l to p
otect the public f
om il
o
d c
ossing
ccidents. Even functioning il
o
d c
ossing sign
ls c
nnot p
event
ll
ccidents, ho
eve
. By
evie
ing OCS d
t

nd the
epo
ts on de
dly collisions,
e find
viety of potenti
l c
uses of collisions bet
een t

ins
nd moto
vehicles
t il
o
d c
ossings, including:

i
-level="1">il
o
d c
ossing g
te
nd light m
lfunction<
li>

i
-level="1">Visu
l obst
uctions th
t block
d
ive
’s vie
up-
nd-do
n the t

cks befo
e c
ossing

i
-level="1">Excessive tin speed th
t p
events
t

in f
om stopping in time<
li>

i
-level="1">F
ilu
e of
conducto
to keep tch fo
vehicles
t c
ossings o
to
pply
tin’s bkes
pp
op
i
tely<
li>

i
-level="1">Poo
m
inten
nce of

il
o
d equipment, including t

ins, t

cks, c
ossings,
nd sign
ls, th
t inc
e
ses the likelihood of
collision<
li>

i
-level="1">Moto
vehicles getting t

pped by t

ffic on

il
o
d c
ossings<
li>

i
-level="1">Moto
vehicle d
ive
s
ho igno
e sign
ls, go ound closed c
ossing g
tes, o
t
y to speed
c
oss
c
ossing
he
d of
n
pp
o
ching tin<
li>

T

in
ccidents m
y h
ve multiple c
uses,
nd it c
n t
ke months fo
offici
l
nd p
iv
tely
et
ined investig
to
s to piece togethe
the ch
in of events th
t led to
de
dly collision on the tcks.

Finding F
ult fo
il
o
d C
ossing
ccidents<
h2>
In the

ke of
de
dly collision
t
il
o
d c
ossing,
tto
neys fo
the
ccident victims
o
k hd to figu
e out not just ho
the collision h
ppened, but
lso
hose un
e
son
ble decisions octions pl
yed

ole in c
using it.
hy? Bec
use those pties
nd thei
employe
s m
y h
ve
<
h
ef="https:
/c

inju
yvictims.com
p
im
-f
cie-negligence-c
se/”>leg
l li
bility to inju
ed victims<>
nd the f
milies of those
ho died. He
e e some of the pties
ho usu
lly dese
ve close
ttention in
il
o
d c
ossing
ccident investig
tion.

Tin Enginee

The enginee

is the fi

st pe

son

hose

ctions d

utiny

fte

just

bout

ny tin

ccident.

ftell, the enginee

ives the tin

nd must ensu

e its s

fe ope

tion.

n enginee

n c

use

d c

ossing collision, fo

mple, by ope

ting

tin:

-level=”1″>
hile unde
the influence of d
ugs olcohol<
li>
i
-level="1">In viol
tion of t

ck speed limits
i
-level="1">
t uns
fe speeds given
e
the
conditions
i
-level="1">
ithout p
ying heed to tck sign
ls
nd
nings
i
-level="1">
ithout ensu
ing p
ope
lo
ding
nd coupling of the tin<
li>

These

e just

mples. Vi

lly

ny e

pse of judgment ottention by

in enginee

could h

ve de

dly consequences

t the moment the t

in p

sses th

ough

highy c

ossing. The enginee

’s employeill typic

lly f

ce leg

l li

bility fo

the conducto

’s

ctions in these scen

ios.

Public
nd P
iv
te il
o
d Tck O
ne
s<
h3>
Both p
iv
te comp
nies
nd public entities c
n o
n

il
o
d t

cks
nd the equipment
t

il
o
d c
ossings. Eithe
one
ill h
ve impo
t
nt oblig
tions to the public to m
int
in those tcks
nd c
ossings in
s
fe condition.
t

ck o
ne
‘s
ctions c
n cont
ibute to
il
o
d
ccident by, fo
ex
mple:

-level=”1″>Letting t

cks deg

de in
m
nne
th
t m
kes it hde
fo
tins to stop o
m
int
in cont
ol on them.<
li>

i
-level="1">F
iling to fix o

epl
ce b
oken sign
ls
t

il
o
d c
ossings.<
li>

T

in Equipment O
ne

The business th

t o

ns the t

in th

t collided

ith

c o

uck

d c

ossing could

lso f

ce li

bility fo

the

ccident if it f

ils to m

int

in the engine o

cs in

fe condition.

ck of functioning bkes, lights, o

ns on

in c

ll cont

ibute to the c

use of

ossing collision, fo

mple.

Moto
ists<
h3>
D
ive
s of c

s
nd t
ucks c
n
lso sh

e f
ult fo il
o
d c
ossing
ccident. Obviously, f
ult c
n lie
ith
d
ive

ho igno
es
ning sign
ls
nd c
osses tcks in f
ont of
n oncoming tin. Ho
eve
, othe
d
ive
s c
n
lso be

some of the bl
me if they:

-level=”1″>T

p
vehicle on the tcks
s
tin
pp
o
ches,
nd <
h
ef="https:
/c

inju
yvictims.com
houston-
eckless-d
iving/”>f
il to c
e
te
oom fo
the vehicle<> to get to s
fety.

i
-level="1">
e

-end
vehicle
nd push it onto t

cks
nd into hm’s y.<
li>

i
-level="1"><
h
ef="https:
/c

inju
yvictims.com
houston-
o
d-

ge/”>T
ilg
te o
intimid
te
d
ive
<> into c
ossing t

cks
t
n uns
fe moment.<
li>

These

e just
fe
potenti
l ex
mples. The point is, l

ye
s fo
il
o
d c
ossing
ccident victims t
ke
long, h

d look
t the ci
cumst
nces of the collision to identify eve
yone — not just the obvious p

ties —
ho m
y be
esponsibility foh
t h
ppened.

Common il
o
d C
ossing
ccident Inju
ies

d c

ossing

ccident c

n inflict life-th

tening o

l inju

ies.

e s

id,

moto

vehicle

d c

ossing st

nds no ch

nce

inst the m

ssive size

eight of

in.

ddition to f

lities, common inju

ies victims m

y suffe

d c

ossing

ccident include:

-level=”1″><
h
ef=”https://c

inju
yvictims.comh
t-

e-common-b

in-inju
ies
“>T

um
tic bin inju
ies ><
li>
i
-level="1"><
h
ef="https:
/c

inju
yvictims.com
living-spin
l-co
d-inju
y-often-expensive
“>Spin
l co
d inju
ies<><
li>
i
-level="1">Neck
nd b
ck inju
ies
i
-level="1">C
ush inju
ies
nd t

um
tic
mput
tions<
li>
i
-level="1">B
oken bones
nd o
thopedic inju
ies<
li>
i
-level="1">Seve
e l
cetions
nd
bsions<
li>
i
-level="1">Bu
ns

These

e only

mples of the ys

son c

n get inju

ed in

d c

ossing

ccident. Fe

collisions c

n m

tch the violence

nd potenti

lly c

ophic d

ge of

tin st

iking

c o

uck.

Ho
to Get Compens
tion fo
il
o
d C
ossing
ccident Inju
ies
nd Losses

Inju

ed victims of il

d c

ossing

ccidents

nd the f

milies these tgedies le

ve behind often h

ve the

ight to

eceive signific

nt fin

nci

l compens

tion f

om the

t-f

ult p

ties.

do you get th

t compens

tion? By hi

ing

n expe

ienced

d c

ossing

ccident l

, th

t’s ho

. Yes,

e me

n you need

ho h

det

iled f

mili

ity

ith il

d c

ossing collision c

ses specific

lly,

ho c

n point to

eco

d of success fo

d c

ossing

ccident victims

nd thei

milies.

Just

ny pe

son

l inju

y l

ill not do. You

nt to get the compens

tion you

nd you

mily dese

fte

dev

ting

d c

ossing

ccident. The only

eli

ble

y to get it is to h

skilled

dvoc

te on you

side

ho unde

nds the complic

ted leg

egul

y issues in

ccident investig

tions

nd in suing the pties most commonly

t f

ult, like public entities, public-p

te ptne

ships,

nd complic

ted

d holding comp

nies.

ddition

lly, the lye

you choose needs to h

ve the

esou

ces to h

ndle complex leg

l fights on multiple f

onts,

nd the kno

-ho

dvoc

te fo

you in v

ious fo

ums, including cou

oom t

nd investig

tive p

oceedings.

ith the

ight leg

l te

m by you

side, you inc

se you

nce of secu

ing compens

tion th

t could include p

yment fo

i
-level="1">Medic
l
nd othe
out-of-pocket expenses
el
ted to t
e
ting
nd
d
pting to you
inju
ies.<
li>
i
-level="1">Lost income f
om missing
o
k o
becoming dis
bled bec
use of you
inju
ies.<
li>
i
-level="1">P
in, suffe
ing,
nd diminished qu
lity of life due to you
inju
ies.<
li>

If you lost

loved one in

d c

ossing

ccident, th

t s

me l

could secu

e p

yment fo

i
-level="1">The loss of you
loved one’s comp
nionship, conso
tium,
nd guid
nce
i
-level="1">The loss of you
loved one’s fin
nci
l
nd
o
non-fin
nci
l cont
ibutions to the household
i
-level="1">You
loved one’s medic
l expenses befo
e de
th<
li>
i
-level="1">Funel
nd bu
i
l costs

The

ight lye

might even obt

in punitive d

ges on you

beh

lf if ext

eme o

intention

l misconduct led to the

d c

ossing

ccident th

t hmed you o

you

loved one.

hy It’s Impo
t
nt to
ct F
st

In o

to get compens

tion fo

you

d c

ossing

ccident inju

ies, you m

y need to

ct immedi

tely. He

e’s

hy.

The st
tute of limit
tions<
h3>
l c
lled
st
tute of limit
tions sets
m
ximum time limit on t
king leg
l
ction fo
d
m
ges
fte
getting hu
t in
il
o
d c
ossing
ccident (ony othe
type of
ccident.) Miss th
t de
dline,
nd you lose you

ights.

In some pe
son
l inju
y c
ses, complying
ith the st
tute of limit
tions is p
etty st

ightfo

d… But not

il
o
d
ccident c
ses. In
ny incident involving
t

in collision, multiple limit
tions pe
iods could
pply to you
potenti
l cl
ims, depending on, fo
ex
mple:

i
-level="1">
hethe
you h
ve
st
te o
fedel l cl
im, o
both<
li>

i
-level="1">
hethe

public o
p
iv
te pty o
es you compens
tion<
li>

i
-level="1">
hethe

ny p

ty
ho o
es you compens
tion h
s filed fo
b
nk
uptcy p
otection

cting quickly —
s in, immedi
tely — to secu
e skilled leg
l
ep
esent
tion
fte il
o
d c
ossing
ccident helps to ensu
e th
t you do not miss
n impo
t
nt de
dline th
t could impe
il youights!

The scmble to
void li
bility<
h3>
He
e’s
nothe

e
son you must
ct
s soon
s possible
fte il
o
d c
ossing
ccident hms you o loved one: you c
n be su
e th
t the p

ties
t f
ult
ill
ct quickly to t
y to
void li
bility
s best they c
n. They m
y:

i
-level="1">
un to the b
nk
uptcy cou
t fo
p
otection<
li>

i
-level="1">Hide o
dest
oy evidence<
li>

i
-level="1">T
y to influence the outcome of offici
l investig
tions

You simply c
n’t
ffo
d to let them get
he
d stt on thei
effo
ts to hide f
om thei
ongdoing. By hi
ing
lye
ong>
ight
y<
st
ong>
fte

il
o
d c
ossing
ccident, you’ll p
otect you
self
g
inst m
neuve
s designed to le
ve you empty-h
nded.

Evidence
nd Investig
tion

Fin

lly, you need

ong>no

ong> bec

use investig

ill stt collecting evidence of

t c

used you

d c

ossing

ccident immedi

tely

fte

the collision. M

ke su

e they g

the

the evidence th

t m

tte

nd don’t miss

nything.

skilled l

n monito

offici

l investig

tions fo

you

nd even conduct

te investig

tion if necessy to ensu

e th

t the

ight evidence gets collected

lyzed. So, ong>don’t

it. Don’t miss out on the money you dese

ve<

ong>. Cont

n expe

ienced

d c

ossing

ccident inju

tto

ney immedi

tely to p

otect you

leg

nd fin

nci

ights

fte

collision

ossing hms you o loved one. You h

ve nothing to lose by connecting

ith

tto

ney fo

ee consult

tion,

nd you m

y h

ve lots to g

in!

il od C ossing ccident D t

Tin Enginee

T in Equipment O ne

Common ilo d Cossing ccident Injuies

Ho to Get Compens tion foil od C ossing ccident Inju ies nd Losses

hy It’s Impo tnt to ct Fst

Evidence nd Investigtion

Testimonials

Read More

il
o
d C
ossing
ccident D
t

T

in Equipment O
ne

Common il
o
d C
ossing
ccident Inju
ies

Ho
to Get Compens
tion fo
il
o
d C
ossing
ccident Inju
ies
nd Losses

hy It’s Impo
t
nt to
ct F
st

Evidence
nd Investig
tion