Attorney
Trains are involved in an accident with a person or a vehicle every 115 minutes in the United States. There are many reasons for such accidents. Railroad crossings may have inadequate warning lights or no warnings at all. Sometimes there is debris on railroad tracks that causes a train to derail. Other times, human error is involved. Train conductors or track operators may have performed their duties negligently. If a train accident has injured you or a loved one, a Washington, D.C. personal injury lawyer can help you hold those who acted negligently responsible.
A few weeks ago, a train struck and killed a CSX employee as the man was inspecting another train in the rail yard. The 54-year-old man was walking alongside a parked train and examining its brakes. The train that hit him was a 37-car northbound train hauling orange juice to Philadelphia. It had been blowing its horn as it traveled through the rail yard. Because of the accident, travelers between Richmond, Virginia and Washington, D.C. had to get on buses for portions of their trip.
It is best to play it safe when dealing with trains. Pedestrians and drivers are in the best position to avoid accidents. Train operators can do little to avoid accidents. A 150-car freight train traveling at 50 miles per hour, for example, will take over a mile to stop. Drivers should take caution when approaching railroad crossings. Pedestrians should avoid walking near railroad tracks at all, and railroad employees need to be aware of their surroundings. Railroad companies should ensure that their employees are working in a safe environment.
If a train accident has harmed you or a loved one, contact a Washington, D.C. personal injury attorney at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P to learn how you can obtain compensation for your suffering.