St Louis County Railroad Accident Lawyers
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Railroad Accidents
Railroad accidents in St. Louis County are rare, but when they do occur the results are often catastrophic. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a railroad accident, you may need quality legal representation to receive fair compensation for the losses you have suffered.
Missouri Railroad Accident Statistics
According to the 2009 Missouri Department of Transportation Accident Statistics Manual, there were two fatal collisions between trains and cars in Missouri resulting in three fatalities. During that same year, there was one injury crash resulting in two non-fatal injuries.
Causes of Railroad Accidents
To determine who may be held liable for a St Louis railroad accident, it will be important to prove who or what caused the crash. Common causes of train accidents include:
- Maintenance issues: A failure to properly maintain a train or a track can lead to a serious injury accident. In such cases, the mass transit company may be held responsible for the crash.
- Human error: Human error by motorists, pedestrian and train operators can lead to a St Louis railroad accident. Drivers and pedestrians must yield to railroad crossing devices and use reasonable caution when crossing a train track. Operators of trains must be alert and focused at all times as well. Distracted train operators have caused catastrophic train accidents in recent years.
- Mechanical failure: Machines may fail because of defective parts or lack of proper maintenance.
- Lack of safety devices: It is often the responsibility of the railroad company and the governing body in charge of the intersection to make sure there is an adequate amount of safety devices and warnings at locations where roadways intersect with a train track.
Rights of Injured Passengers
If a train accident occurs and a passenger is injured, the mass carrier has a legal obligation to provide the utmost duty of care to the injured victim. Compensation must be given swiftly to anyone harmed while riding a train. Injured passengers often have to file a claim within a short period of time.
Rights of Injured Motorists
It is common for motorists involved in St Louis train accidents to be deemed responsible for failing to yield the right-of-way to the oncoming train. This is why injured victims of railroad accidents may need representation to receive fair compensation for their losses. If negligence by a train operator or railroad company played a part in the crash, the victim may be able to receive compensation for all injuries, damages and losses sustained in the crash.
The St. Louis County personal injury attorneys at Page Law have a proven track record of protecting the rights of St. Louis residents injured by the negligence of others. If you or a loved one has been harmed in a railroad accident, call our offices right away for a free consultation. We are here to help.
St. Louis County Personal Injury Resource Center
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