Railroad Accidents
Railroad accidents are often the result of many causes including human error and equipment failure. Those injured due to a railroad accident may be entitled to compensation. Doran & Murphy, LLP, railroad accident lawyers, are proficient in railroad accident laws. We can help those who have suffered injury or loss as a result of railroad accidents by assisting them with their lawsuit in an effort to receive proper compensation.
Common Causes of Railroad Accidents
There are countless reasons for a railroad accident. A true “freak accident" exists where nothing could have been done to prevent it. Often the cause of a railroad accident is one of the following causes:
Human Error
- An accident can result from conductor negligence or engineer negligence. Examples of this have been crashes that resulted from a conductor or engineer being distracted by their cell phone or other workers.
- The conductor or engineer was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident.
- A worker improperly switched tracks.
- Workers who push train cars with out following safety precautions.
- Leaving cars in a position that is unsafe for functioning cars on the same or adjacent track.
Driver Negligence
- There have been a significant number of cases where people have been killed or seriously injured as a result of train racing. This means that people tried to get across a railroad crossing before the train passed it. Besides the fact that this is seriously dangerous, it is often somewhat of an optical illusion for people. Trains are often much closer and moving much faster than they appear.
Equipment Failure
- Malfunction of brakes
- Malfunction of warning lights, sounds and gates
- Faulty Communication Equipment
- Defective of broken handrails on locomotives or rail cars
- Defective handbrakes
- Defective or broken rails may cause derailment
