A head on collision this week between a freight train and another train in Oklahoma serves as a grim reminder of the devastating impact of train collisions. Federal regulators are trying to determine why a freight train remained on the main line rather than pull off to a side track to avoid a collision. There are three employees of Union Pacific Railroad that are unaccounted for after the horrific train crash who presumably died given that investigators reported that there was “no survivable space” in the locomotives in the wake of the train crash. The impact of the collision between the locomotives caused a huge fireball to erupt from the diesel fuel causing the locomotives to literally be welded together by the heat.
The investigation is focused on the possibility that the conductor of the freight train was distracted because there is no indication that the railroad signal was malfunctioning or that there were problems with the train track. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators plan to review records from the conductor’s mobile phone and the black box data recorders from the locomotives, which are similar to event data recorders on commercial airlines. The NTSB has concluded that one of the trains clearly had right of way but the conductor did not divert the freight train to a side rail.
While train crashes may not be as common as those involving other modes of transportation like passenger cars, SUVs, motorcycles and tractor-trailers, they often result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities when they occur. There are thousands of collisions involving trains and motor vehicles every year caused by the negligent operation of trains, defective switches or signals and poorly maintained track or railroad crossing signals. When trains result in serious injuries or fatalities to motor vehicle occupants or pedestrians, the railroad company may be liable for failure to exercise reasonable care to prevent reasonably foreseeable train crashes. Some of the common factors that cause train accidents in Mississippi include:
- Failure of brakes, switches and crossing warning systems because of poor maintenance
- Defective crossing signals and barriers
- Distraction of train conductors and others
- Improper speed on curves or near rail crossing
If you or a family member suffers severe injuries or a loved one dies in a railroad accident, our dedicated and compassionate Mississippi train accident attorneys may be able to represent you in seeking financial compensation. At Barrett Law, our experienced Mississippi personal injury lawyers represent injury victims throughout Mississippi. Our law firm has roots that reach back 75 years so contact us today for your free initial consultation at (662) 834-2376 to see how we can help.
