Railroad Crossing Accidents
A railroad crossing is an intersection between two very different modes of transportation. Most of the time trains and automobiles operate separately from one another on entirely different transportation systems. At crossings however, these two have the potential to collide if certain safety precautions and procedures are not followed. Tragically, trains collide with cars and pedestrians an average of 12 times a day, causing life-threatening or life-ending injuries to crash victims.
Train crashes may occur for a number of different reasons. Among them, some of the most common causes are:
- Lack of warning signs and lights to alert drivers of an oncoming train
- Crossing gate or light failure
- Train operator negligence, such as not slowing down through a crossing or not blowing the horn to warn drivers
- Defective brakes that fail to slow down the train
Railroad companies have an obligation to maintain their trains, tracks, and crossings for public safety. When they fail to do so, an unaware driver or pedestrian can easily be caught off guard and suddenly struck by an oncoming train. A railroad company that does not properly train its operators, maintain train infrastructure, or take other reasonable action to create safe track crossing conditions may be held liable for railroad crossing accidents.
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If you or someone you love has been injured in a railroad crossing accident, your family may be entitled to compensation for injuries and damages. For sound legal advice on how to proceed with a claim for compensation, contact the Wausau car accident lawyers of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ® today at 800-242-2874
