Most serious railroad accidents take place on grade crossings. These crossings may lack important safety features to properly warn people of an oncoming train. They tend to pose more risks due to equipment malfunction or failure of a conductor to give a proper warning. A railroad accident can leave victims sustaining serious injuries or fatalities. If you have been in this type of accident, you must retain a good railroad accident lawyer for help.
Establishing Railroad Crossing Negligence
In railroad accidents, railroad companies and their contractors can be held liable because of malfunctioning equipment, too much foliage that blocks the oncoming train’s proper view, poor grade cross design, poor track maintenance, train speeding, and the failure of the contractor to blow a horn. If the company is proven to be at-fault for the accident, you can seek compensation for your financial, physical, and emotional losses. Families of victims who died in a railroad accident may have grounds to file a wrongful death lawsuit. An experienced railroad accident lawyer could help you after your accident by determining the kinds of compensation you may be entitled to.
The Parties that can be At-Fault for the Accident
Aside from the railroad company, other parties can also be held liable to a railroad accident. These include the driver who caused the crash, the trucking company that employs the driver, the train operator, the company that maintains the tracks, a crossing contractor, a local authority that designs a crossing, a property owner when a crossing is on private land. An attorney can help determine the liable parties, depending on your railroad accident.
Speaking with an Experienced Lawyer
Railroad companies have their own team of lawyers and financial resources. To protect their interests, they will try to reduce the amount of compensation they owe you or look for ways to deny your claim. To fight these companies, you must have a good attorney on your side who is familiar with railroad laws and the different types of negligence that can directly result in accidents. The best railroad accident lawyers have decades of experience in this area of the law. They know the tricks used by rail companies and help you build a strong case to hold the at-fault parties accountable for your injuries. They have represented people who sustained serious injuries in railroad crossings and the families of those who died in accidents that involved trains.
