While passenger trains and commuter trains constitute one of the safest forms of travel, collisions between motor vehicles and trains usually result in catastrophic injuries or even fatalities for the occupant of a car, SUV, van, or pickup. During a derailment accident caused by such a crash, the train passengers also frequently experience life-altering injuries.
A recent fatal train crash in Flora, Mississippi led to the death of a father, his 7-year-old daughter, and a 1-year-old son. The train was headed to New Orleans after a stop in Jackson when it struck the vehicle. The truck became lodged under the train before being ripped in two. Media sources reported the Kearney Park fire chief indicated all three family members were killed on impact even though all vehicle occupants were properly buckled up or in age-appropriate child safety restraints.
Trains, railroads, and railyards are inherently dangerous, so thousands of railroad accidents cause hundreds of deaths each year. When train companies fail to take adequate precautions to protect the public and employees, the result can be devastating injuries and fatalities. Some of the most significant types of train accidents include:
- Derailment of trains transporting hazardous or toxic substances
- Crashes between motor vehicles and trains at unsafe railroad crossings
- Train derailments or collisions
- On-the-job injuries to railroad workers involved in accidents
- Railroad employees exposed to toxic chemicals
If the railroad company does not implement appropriate measures to prevent these types of train accidents, the railroad company can be liable for failure to utilize appropriate equipment, safety training, or other forms of carelessness. Typical examples of railroad negligence that frequently cause serious injury include:
- Use of improper equipment on locomotive tracks or crossings
- Failing to perform proper maintenance to keep train crossings and tracks safe
- Lack of timely and regular inspections
- Employees forced to work excessive hours resulting in fatigue-related accidents
- Inadequate training of railroad employees
- Failure to provide clear markings, warnings, or barriers at rail crossings
While train derailments and other railroad accidents can occur in many situations, train crossing accidents like the fatal train accident in Flora, MS constitute one of the most common types of deadly train accidents. When overgrown vegetation or other hazards obstruct the view at a train crossing, motorists can make miscalculations regarding their safety at train-road intersections. In other cases, the rail crossing gate or signal might be improperly installed, poorly maintained, or ambiguously marked, so that approaching motorists are not properly warned of the approaching train. Laws require train conductors to sound whistles and reduce their speed to warn approaching motorists and pedestrians of an approaching train, and the failure to do so often causes horrific railroad crossing accidents.
While passengers often suffer serious injury in train accidents, railroad employees labor on a daily basis in one of the most dangerous of occupations. The Federal Employer’ Liability Act (FELA) imposes a duty on railroad companies to protect their employees from unnecessary risks that could cause disabling injuries.
Common examples of train injuries include but are not limited to the following:
- Vibration injuries (e.g. joints, spine, feet, ankles, etc.)
- Physical injuries (e.g. amputations, lacerations, severe burns, broken bones, etc.)
- Trip and fall and slip and fall accidents
- Damage to hearing
- Ballast injuries (e.g. spine, feet, legs, ankles, knees, etc.)
- Toxic chemical exposure
- Repetitive motion injuries (carpal tunnel)
- Lung Cancer
If you have been injured in a Mississippi train accident, our Mississippi Train Accident Lawyers have successfully represented many train and railroad injury victims in obtaining compensation for their injuries. At Barrett Law, we are here to help. Contact our firm today at 800-707-9577 to schedule your free consultation, so we can answer any questions you may have regarding filing your claim.