While derailments and train crashes are fairly uncommon, when they do occur, they cause death and catastrophic injuries. The Great Train Wreck of 1856 that took place in Pennsylvania is one of the most famous train accidents in the world. It happened between Camp Hill and Fort Washington when two trains moving in opposite directions collided on the same track. More than 100 people were injured, and another 50 passengers were killed.
Thankfully, accidents of this magnitude don’t happen every day, but people are still injured in Pennsylvania local and commuter train accidents. In 2009, the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety Analysis reported that more than 7,700 people were injured in railroad-related accidents in the United States.
When these crashes are triggered by someone else’s carelessness, you can help protect your rights by speaking with a train/railroad accident attorney at the SMT Legal. If you or a loved one were injured in a train accident, you may be entitled to recover money to pay for lost earning power or wages, medical costs, wrongful death, and any other bills associated with the incident.
Call us at 1-888-976-2529 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free case evaluation. We have the skills, resources, and experience needed to successfully pursue death or injury claims caused by Pennsylvania railroad accidents.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Railroad Accidents?
Because they transport the public, railroad companies are expected to live up to very high standards of safety and must do everything within their power to ensure passengers travel safely. Sadly, we still hear about derailments, collisions, and other accidents associated with train travel every year. Sometimes they’re caused by defective equipment, other times by driver error. Train accidents are most commonly caused by the following:
- Mechanical Failures
- Missing or malfunctioning gates, signals, or lights at crossings
- Colliding with another train
- Colliding with a bus, truck, or car attempting to cross or stopped on the tracks
- Improper track maintenance
- Conductor negligence in the form of driving too fast, while drowsy, or while distracted
More than one major rail company has come under scrutiny for faulty safety policies. However, many times it takes a tragedy before these investigations take place. If an accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, the liable parties must be held responsible. Often times, it is the train company that is held accountable for providing compensation for deaths and injuries.
After the sheer terror a train accident can cause, you probably just want to recover and move forward. However, emotional and physical suffering, time off from work, and massive medical bills can impede your progress. Don’t bear these burdens alone. An Allegheny County train/railroad accident attorney at the SMT Legal can help you get the money you’re owed to cover your bills so you can move forward with fewer worries.
Remember that the railroad company responsible for your accident will have an aggressive legal team working on their behalf to minimize the money they pay out to injured victims in a lawsuit. If you don’t have your own representation, you could lose out on justice and a fair settlement.
The lawyers at the SMT Legal understand the complexities of large-scale train accidents, and we have the skills and experience needed to deal with large transportation companies. We know it’s in your best interest to act quickly and preserve evidence to prove who is at fault. Our resources and network of top industry experts will help you achieve the best possible results.
