Chicago Train & Railroad Accident Lawyers

Hart David Carson helps victims of train accidents recover damages for injuries and wrongful death of loved ones. Train and railroad accidents result in massive damages, both in terms of finances and personal injury. In Illinois, hundreds of millions of tons of freight pass through the state at thousands of railroad crossings, making the chances of a railroad accident rather high. At times, these accidents result from negligence on the part of the train conductor or the railroad, but they may have other factors at play as well, such as recklessness on the part of drivers.

Given the sheer weight of trains and their freight, railroad accidents pose a high risk of injury and death to pedestrians and motorists. Injuries resulting from these accidents are often very severe, costing the victims hundreds of thousands in medical costs and lost income.

Train & Railroad Accident Causes & Risk Factors

Many things can go wrong when it comes to trains, especially at railroad crossings. 

A few of the risk factors and causes of accidents include:

• Malfunctioning railroad signals
• Poor track maintenance
• Poor maintenance of the train engine
• Faulty or misaligned rails or crossings
• Train derailment
• Distraction or negligence on the part of the train conductor
• Attempts by drivers to cross while warning signals are on

The factors at play in a train accident are often a combination of mechanical failure and human error, meaning a thorough investigation into the accident’s cause is vital, especially when determining fault.

Determining Fault

Many parties are involved in running trains and railroads, including manufacturers, engineers, train operators, railroad employees, maintenance workers, and so forth. Determining what went wrong in a crash or derailment will require a thorough look at how each party was involved.

Thus, determining liability can be an involved and costly process — one that should not be taken lightly. Once liability and overall fault for negligence is established, you can recover damages for what happened in the accident.

Recovering Damages

The amount of compensation you’ll be eligible to receive ultimately depends on the damages you suffered and the competence of your attorney. 

Some damages a railroad accident will likely incur include:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages
• Inability to work
• Damage to property, such as an automobile
• Pain and suffering
• Prolonged or permanent disability
• Lost ability to lead a normal life

These damages may be recovered either by coming to a settlement with responsible parties and insurance companies or by winning at trial. However, without skilled legal advising and representation, neither of these will be particularly successful, and you will likely not recover as much as you deserve. 

If you have been injured in a railroad accident, or if a loved one passed away in one, contact Hart David Carson as soon as possible. Our attorneys will examine your case and determine the best path to take. From there, we represent you during settlement negotiations and during trial.

For a free consultation, contact our attorneys today.