Train Crossing Accidents
Train crossing accidents occur across the U.S. about 3,000 times each year. Texas, in particular, has a very high rate of train crossing accidents — roughly 300 each year (the highest rate in the U.S.). Fitts Zehl, LLP, a FELA and train accident law firm based in Houston, Texas represents individuals injured in train crossing accidents across the U.S.
The Vast Majority of Train Accidents
The vast majority of train accidents take place at train crossings. Forty-four people were killed in train crossing accidents in Texas alone in 2006. There are about 10,000 train crossings in Texas (including public and private crossings). About half of them don’t even have flashing signals or a gate to warn drivers of the crossing.
Dangerous Conditions Cause Many Train Crossing Accidents
Indeed, many train crossing accidents are due to dangerous conditions at the crossing, including:
- no warning or inadequate warning at the crossing
- poorly maintained or defective warning mechanisms
- overgrown vegetation at the crossing that obstructs drivers’ ability to see an oncoming train
In many cases, a driver or pedestrian is not responsible for the train crossing accident. In other instances, both the injured party and the crossing’s owner/operator or another party may share the liability. The train accident attorneys at Fitts Zehl in Houston will determine the cause of the accident and help you recover for your damages.
Even if you are partly responsible for the accident, you may still be entitled to compensation. It’s always in your best interest to consult with an experienced train accident lawyer to determine your legal rights.
Train Accident Injury Statistics
Vehicles and humans are placed at great danger when confronting a moving locomotive at a train crossing. It takes a freight train moving at 55 miles per hour one mile or more to stop — that’s about the length of 18 football fields as a stopping distance.
Each year, train crossing accidents result in injuries to passengers of the following:
- automobiles — 45%
- truck-trailers — 16%
- pick-up trucks — 16%
- trucks — 8%
- other motor vehicles (e.g., tractors) — 5%
- vans —4%
Four percent of train accident crossings involve pedestrians, who are especially vulnerable and rarely survive the injuries they sustain.
Train Accident Attorneys
The losses that accompany train crossing accidents are usually very severe. Vehicles can easily be demolished by a moving train, and the injuries to passengers or pedestrians, if not immediately fatal, are often permanent and life-changing, with huge financial costs. Contact Fitts Zehl today for a free case evaluation with one of our experienced train-crossing accident lawyers. We look forward to helping you.
Fitts Zehl represents clients throughout Texas, including Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen, Fort Worth, Galveston, Sugar Land, Killeen, El Paso and Austin.
Fitts Zehl Recent News
News Update: June 1, 2009, Fitts Zehl was named one of five "Power Lawyers and Law Firms of 2009" in Houston.
