The Federal Railroad Administration reports that railroad accidents resulted in 703 fatalities and 7,707 injuries in 2008. Accidents at railroad crossings kill or seriously injure approximately 2,400 people each year in the U.S.
Please contact the Chicago railroad crossing accident lawyers of The Horwitz Law Group if you were injured or if a member of your family was killed in an accident at a rail crossing. There is no cost and no obligation to learn if we can help.
Causes of Train Crossing Accidents
Railroad crossing accidents can be caused by a variety of factors. Our Chicago car accident attorneys will investigate the circumstances of the case to determine who caused or contributed to the accident. Some common forms of negligence include:
- Lack of functioning or effective warning signs at railroad crossings
- Crossing arms fail to lower
- Dangerous design of the intersection or crossing
- Failure to sound the train's horn
- Operating the train while drunk, distracted or drug-impaired
- Operating at excessive speeds
Many railroad crossing accidents occur at night at crossings without lights. The railroads erect a black-and-white crossbuck railroad crossing sign and expect it to protect drivers from a multi-ton train that cannot stop in time to avoid an accident. We believe that is inadequate protection for drivers and an inadequate defense in court.
To arrange a free consultation about your case, please contact The Horwitz Law Group by e-mail or call 312-386-7002.
