Thousands of train accidents occur every year and the results are devastating. According to data produced by the Federal Railroad Administration, during the first 10 months of 2017, there were over 6800 train accidents.
Why Choose Our Denver Train Accident Lawyer?
- Our Denver personal injury law firm is small but with large firm power. With our experienced train accident attorneys, we have the resources to represent you while still taking the time to be there for our clients when they need them.
- We work primarily on contingency which means we only get paid if our clients get paid.
- When you find an attorney who charges based on contingency, you know that they have a huge incentive to fight for you, and they’re confident in their ability to win your case.
How a Denver Train Accident Attorney Can Help:
Accidents commonly occur due to negligence on the part of the train company, railroad employees, manufacturers of equipment, or governmental agency. Whether you’re an employee, a passenger, or a bystander, if you’re injured by a train, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries, medical bills, lost income, loss of future income, and pain and suffering.
Our Denver train accident lawyer has won millions of dollars for our clients. If you’re the victim of a train accident, it’s essential to document physical and financial injury. Financial injury includes loss of wages and loss of future earning power. We can provide the guidance necessary to accurately calculate your future losses, so you don’t end up with less than you need and deserve.
Railway injuries occur for a variety of reasons, including:
- Motor vehicle-train collisions
- Derailments
- Hazardous material accidents
- Railroad crossing accidents
Possible Causes of Railway Injuries
Most accidents are avoidable. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTBS), the majority of train fatalities are trespassers struck by trains. Unprotected railway crossings don’t have lights or signals so there’s no warning that a train is coming. Bystanders are hurt or killed at these crossings. Being hit by a train is not usually survivable. It’s also dangerous for the people riding the train and other bystanders.
Train derailments and hazardous material spills can cause injury to bystanders. Sometimes passengers are injured while boarding or disembarking from the train. Other causes include:
- Poor maintenance
- Defective safety equipment on the train
- Defective or inadequate safety equipment at the railway crossing
- Mechanical failures
- Distracted pedestrians
- Negligent motor vehicle drivers
- Misaligned tracks
- Speeding
- Cargo loaded unevenly
- Breaks in the track
- Defective wheels or other equipment
- Human error or negligence
Passenger trains travel at a high rate of speed and passengers do not wear safety devices. This means that even a small accident can cause great injury or even wrongful death.
If you work for the railroad, it is a reasonable assumption that your employer will do everything within their power to keep you safe. The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) requires that a reasonably safe workplace is provided, inspections must be conducted to keep the workplace free of hazards, the employer must enforce safety rules and ensure that training and supervision are in place.
Investigating Railway Accidents
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) monitors train incidents every day of the year. Their primary investigatory focus is on accidents involving railway equipment or highway-rail crossings, and fatalities of employees and contractors. Their findings are available through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
Contact Our Denver Train Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Additional investigation will be necessary, whether or not the FRA investigates the cause of your injuries. To seek compensation, we must find out what caused the accident to determine who is liable. Jordan, Herington & Rowley has the expertise and resources to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the truth. Call us at (303) 465-8733