Personal Injury Lawyer Hillsville VA

Train accidents and fatalities are nothing new. In the past decade or so, there have been more than 110,000 train accidents which have killed almost 7,000 avictims. Accident investigations of these crashes often reveal that the crash could have been prevented if the proper precautions had been taken.

While overall train systems across the country are considered to be safe, accidents do happen. We often hear of cars that have crossed onto tracks and have been struck by an oncoming train. If a vehicle driver does not exercise prudent behavior at a crossing and was subsequently impacted by a train, it is possible that passengers in the railcar may also suffer serious injuries or death.

What are your options if a relative or family member has been hurt or killed in a train collision? Garnering legal advice is one of your primary priorities. Having the expertise of a personal injury lawyer from a Hillsville VA law firm such as MartinWren, P.C. advocating for you can help ensure your rights will be protected.

When Vehicles Drive Across Train Tracks

According to statistics from the federal government, approximately 1,000 people die in train accidents every year. The government data also reveals that about every 115 minutes, a person or vehicle is hit by a train in this country.

The types of rail accidents and/or incidents that may occur include the following scenarios:

• Train-car collisions
• Train-person collisions
• Train-train collisions
• Damage to property
• Train derailment

Train-Car Collisions

Did you know that motorists are 20 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than a collision involving another motor vehicle?

When approaching a railroad crossing, many drivers continue to make the mistake of believing that an oncoming train will be able to stop in time if their car were to get stuck or stall on the railway tracks. However, this just is not the case. The truth is, it takes a 150-car freight train traveling 50 miles per hour, over a mile to fully stop and an eight-car passenger train traveling 79 miles per hour takes 6000 feet (or 1 1/8 miles) to stop.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, there are about 5,800 train-car crashes each year in the United States, most of which occur at railroad crossings. These crashes result in 600 deaths and about 2,300 injuries. About 75 percent of car and train collisions involve the train hitting the car during daytime hours.

The valuable lesson to be learned here is to take precautions at railroad crossings, be extra cautious, obey signage, and use common sense if the signs are inadequate or obscured. Drive safe and expect a train at any time at railroad crossings.

Legal Representation

MartinWren, P.C. can assist you in recovering financial compensation if a loved one was seriously hurt or killed in train accident. The award may include compensation to cover lost wages, past and future medical bills, and pain and suffering. Depending on the laws in the state you live in, punitive damages may also be recovered. Call today to meet with a personal injury lawyer Hillsville VA clients turn to.