Lexis Nexis
Gary W. Starnes Attorney at Law
736 Georgia Avenue
Suite 404 Dome Bldg.
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone (800)281-2403
Fax (423) 266-7193
Email: gstarnes@volstate.net
Injury Attorney
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Railroad Accidents
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When people think of railroad accidents, they’re likely to think, first, of derailments or railroad crossing accidents. But these aren’t the only types of railroad-related accidents. Statistics from 2007 show that of the 785 railroad-related deaths that year, 299 were the result of incidents that occurred at public highway-rail crossings, and the remaining 486 victims were killed while trespassing on railroad rights-of-way and property. Of that year’s 1,210 injuries, 817 were incurred from incidents at highway-rail crossings, and 393 were injured while trespassing.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Safety Advisories include many disturbing advisories, such as:
“2006-05 recommends that each railroad operating passenger trains assess the rules, instructions, and procedures used to ensure that a train will not depart a station until all passengers successfully board or alight from the train, and ensure compliance with such rules, instructions, and procedures.”
“2004-03 addresses the importance of clear, precise, unambiguous railroad safety procedures to ensure the safety of highway-rail grade crossing warning systems or wayside signal systems that are temporarily removed from service.”
Other advisories address safety issues regarding rails, equipment to connect cars, employee behavior on or about tracks, side frame failures, delayed delivery of “time sensitive chemicals” beyond their date of placement, and many other potential liabilities.
Of the 139,862 public grade crossings in the U.S., only about 50,132 have gates, 23,215 have flashing lights, and 1,248 have traffic signals, wigwags and bells. This creates a huge potential for accidents involving trains and highway vehicles, alone.
In addition to railroad crossing accidents, others can result in the release of toxic chemicals, worker-incurred injuries and deaths, passenger injuries and deaths, explosions, fires, injuries from flying debris, derailments, and those involving trespassers. They can be caused by deterioration or failures of cars, connections, rails, signal systems, employees to take appropriate action at the right time, and, countless other factors.
If you were injured in a vehicle accident involving a railroad or on railroad property, you will need the expertise of a skilled investigator and an experienced injury lawyer to defend you against the railroad’s determined insurance team of investigators. If you were injured, you have rights and should not be pressured into forfeiting them, but should be compensated for the full extent of your injuries and future losses.
Remember that there are Statutes of Limitations for personal injury claims that require you to take action within a specified time period. To preserve your right to seek damages get the advice of an experienced personal injury trial lawyer as soon as possible after you’ve been injured.
If you are a victim of a railroad accident and have suffered injuries or the death of a loved one, please contact injury attorney, Gary Starnes, Attorney at Law, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, serving clients in Tennessee and Georgia. You may also call us at 1-800-281-2403 to schedule an appointment.