Learn About Train Accidents and Injuries

The railroad has an important duty to follow saftey guides and protect the citizens that they may come in contact with. If you were injured in a railroad accident, contact an experienced attorney to learn more about your rights and how to protect them.

If you have been injured at your job as a railroad employee or as a citizen at a railroad crossing, we urge you to contact Dreesen Law Firm, LLC, to learn more about your legal rights and how we can help you. Dreesen Law Firm, LLC, has represented numerous people in the United States who have experienced railroad accidents.

General information about railroad accidents is provided in the text below. However, each case varies and we strongly urge you to call the firm to discuss the specifics of your accident to figure out how we can help your individual case. Consultations are free, so please call today!

Train Accidents and Injuries - An Overview

More than one-hundered-thousand miles of rail line stretches throughout the United States, and although use of railroads, especially passenger use, has declined, railroads still play a huge role in the country. Transportation of goods on trains is still commonly used in America due to energy-efficiency and low-cost.

Even while we are down from historical numbers, thousands of trains still run in the United States everyday. And with so many trains running, there are consequences that follow. Thousands of passengers, citizens and railroad workers are injured or killed every year. Although more safety precautions have been taken and passenger use has declined, there are still a large amount of deaths and injuries per year, approximately one every two hours.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Train Accidents and Injuries

Q: What determines the legal responsibility a railroad owes someone injured on or around a train?
A: Legal responsibility depends on the relationship of the injured person to the train accident. Legalities vary depending on the degree of the injury and who it is, whether it is an employee, pedestrian, or motorist.

Q: What legal responsibilities do railroads have to their passengers?
A: Railroads are common carriers, which means their passengers are top priority and deserve to highest care. The railroad makes recovery for injuries that a passenger may receive while on the train, even if it is partially due to another passenger, they are still somewhat responsible for causing injuries.

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Typical Train Accidents

With a typical locomotive weighing in at almost 500 tons, it is safe to say that pedestrians and vehicles don’t stand a chance when the two are faced with one another. According to the Federal Rial Administration office of safety analysis, there were 704 railroad related fatalities and 7,783 train accidents in the United States in 2009. Law reguarding train accidents varies from state to state and are often very complex. If you were injured or if a family member was injured please call and get the help you deserve.
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Protection of FELA Benefits

The Federal Employers’ Liability Act, known as FELA, is a federal compensation program that has been around for over one hundred years. This compensation program protects railroad workers that suffer from railroad related accidents, such as physical injuries or occupational diseases. Historical railroad statistics for injuries and deaths were so high that Congress passed FELA which was intended to cover a wide range of conduct.
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Railroad FELA Defense Tactics

During the investigation process of a FELA claim the defense team of the injured railroad employee takes time to gather helpful information to defend themselves in their claim. Many times people such as claim agents and railroad officers approach the victim during pre-trial and attempt to gather information, which sometimes can be damaging to the victim’s case. Injured workers are advised and urged to talk with an experienced FELA attorney before talking to anyone that could be damaging to their case.
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Railroad Safety Obligations to Passengers

Legalities on railroad accidents varies from state to state. However, the railroad in general has raised their legal responsibility standards for the safety of their passengers and workers. Safety zones extend from the depot to the time you board the train to the time you exit. Rail passengers that have been injured during the train experience are advised to talk to an experienced FELA attorney. The attorney will advise you about the legal actions you can take.
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Train Accidents and Injuries Resource Links

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)
FELA was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966. The purpose of FRA is to promulgate and enforce rail safety regulations, administer railroad assistance programs, conduct research and development.

Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver is an international, non-profit education and awareness program dedicated to ending tragic collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights of way.

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/US Department of Transportation (DOT)
National highway safety statistics and safety information from government agency committed to reducing roadway-related fatalities and injuries, including those caused by highway-railroad crossing accidents.

American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
The American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials® (AASHTO®) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association of US public highway and transportation departments that is concerned with five transportation modes: air, highway, public transportation, rail and water.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Railroad Information Page
NTSB's railroad page with accident information, as well as publications and safety issue information.

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