Why is an Accident with a Train More Likely to Lead to Grave Injuries or Death?

A Nashville train accident or any railway catastrophic accident involving an employee, passenger, pedestrian, or car is automatically more likely to lead to a fatality.

According to the website Operation Lifesaver and the Federal Railroad Administration, a comparison can be made between a 30-car train hitting a car stopped on tracks at a traffic signal to a car hitting and crushing a soda can. Pure physics tell us that weight and velocity together can be overwhelming.

Operation Lifesaver indicates that a motorist involved in a Nashville train accident has an increased fatality risk factor 20 times that of a motorist hitting another passenger vehicle. Their analysis is attributed to statistics gathered from the National Highway Transportation Commission.

Why Do I Need a Nashville Train Accident Lawyer?

Those people that are hurt may suffer from traumatic brain injury or other impact problems whose full consequences might not be understood for several months or years after the accident. TBI and spinal cord injury may affect the brain’s ability to communicate with various muscle groups or organ systems for a lengthy period of time or even permanently.

What Factors Can Cause a Nashville Train Accident?

Train track crossings can be one of the most dangerous locations. Signals which indicate that a train is approaching in combination with the conductor’s horn are vital in alerting drivers. Drivers are taught about the importance of never stopping to wait for a traffic signal as part of the licensing process.

Unfortunately, humans are humans and conductors can and do operate trains in distracted states as much as drivers of passenger vehicles do. Failure to alert the public through use of the horn at crossings happens.

Signals and dropping barriers may also fail to work when improperly maintained. Motorists take for granted the ability of their car to move fast and are caught on crossings after stopping for a traffic signal on them.

Other factors include railway track which has not been adequately maintained. Portions of track can become raised or misaligned in such a way as to cause the conductor to lose control of the train. Additionally, the train itself can be kept in a state of improper maintenance where braking systems are inadequate for the task at hand.

What Happens in the Immediate Aftermath of a Train Accident?

According to the website of the Federal Railway Commission, railway companies involved in an accident of any kind are required to file reports with them. Personnel from this agency and related law enforcement groups will arrive on the scene to investigate causes.

While the process of finding out causes may take months to conclude, efforts are often made by railroads to get victims or bystanders to make statements that will exonerate them from responsibility.

It is imperative that if you are involved in a train accident in any capacity, that you find the right attorney to speak on your behalf. We at Top Class Actions can help. The personal injury lawyers at Whitfield Bryson and Mason LLP have expertise in the area of railway accidents. They know how to represent your best interests in the immediate aftermath of the incident and secure compensation for an insecure future.

It can be extremely taxing when dealing with an injury to find the right counsel that will envision these needs. We welcome your inquiries through Top Class Actions.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.