A horrific collision at a railroad crossing killed four people and injured forty others. The rescue effort took over an hour, and rescue workers even had to use metal cutting equipment to free some of the bus passengers from the wreckage. The accident occurred when a freight train crashed into a casino tour bus at a railroad crossing in Biloxi. The train pushed the bus three hundred feet before the vehicles came to rest on the tracks.

Initial reports about the accident mentioned that the design of the crossing might have played a role in the wreck. People who saw the wreck said that the bus seemed to be stuck on the tracks when it got hit by the train. The crossing where the crash occurred is on a steep grade. There is a sign near the crossing to alert drivers of the low ground clearance.

Collisions involving trains and passenger vehicles are often devastating and deadly. Trains are large and cumbersome, and they move fast. Because trains are so massive, they are unable to stop quickly if a vehicle gets stuck on the railroad tracks or crosses the tracks despite a warning signal.

Railroad crossings are designed to keep cars off of railroad tracks when trains are passing through so that collisions do not occur. Unfortunately, all railroad crossings do not provide the same degree of safety. Some railroad crossings prevent accidents better than others do. When a crash happens at a railway crossing, the accident investigation includes a thorough examination of the railroad crossing to assess its design. Crossings that are deemed unsafe get prioritized for repair, but with so many miles of railroad tracks across America and so many railroad crossings, it could be months or even years before unsafe conditions at any given railroad crossing get addressed.

Safety improvements at dangerous railroad crossings can reduce the incidence of collisions between trains and other vehicles. A further reduction in risk can be had by increasing public awareness of the safety risks that are posed by railroad crossings.  If you drive through any railroad crossing on a regular basis, remember that although some trains pass through that crossing on a predictable schedule, not all trains run on fixed schedules. As you approach a railroad crossing, drive carefully. If you see the crossing lights start to flash or the crossing gate begins to lower, stop immediately. Wait for the train to pass all of the way through the crossing, and then wait some more. Do not cross the railroad tracks until the lights stop flashing and the gate, if there is one, is all of the way up. As a final precaution, look both ways before crossing the tracks, even if a train just passed through, because another train could be coming.

Barrett Law PLLC:  Help for Mississippi Accident Victims

Accidents at railroad crossings can cause severe injury and death. If you got hurt or a loved one git killed in a train wreck, contact Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney right away. To learn how a personal injury lawyer could help you recover after a devastating railroad crossing accident, call the Mississippi Personal Injury Attorneys at Barrett Law PLLC at 1 (800) 707-9577 to arrange a consultation.