Accidents Caused by Trains and Railroads in Ohio

Train and Railroad Accidents in Ohio

There are 140,000 miles of freight rail across the U.S., according to the Federal Railroad Administration. More than 5,000 miles of that rail intersects with Ohio. Passenger rail services like Amtrak add thousands of additional miles across the state.

While you may not think about riding trains or moving commodities the old-fashioned way, you may be surprised to realize how often you drive over railroad crossings. Unfortunately, at each of these rail crossings, there is also the potential risk for railroad accidents, and the effect of a vehicle-train collision is usually devastating.

If you were severely injured in a rail accident or lost a loved one, contact the Ohio railroad accident lawyers of Kisling, Nestico & Redick at 1-800-HURT-NOW to learn how we can help you recover compensation.

How Common Are Railroad and Train Accidents?

According to the Federal Railroad Administration’s preliminary numbers, there were 55 train accidents, excluding highway-rail crossing accidents in Ohio in 2016, leading to 17 casualties. In 2015, there were a total of 59 train accidents, causing 21 fatalities. Throughout 2016 and 2015, there were approximately 140 nonfatal injuries in the state.

Many train accidents and wrongful deaths result from collisions at public and private highway-rail crossings.

In 2016, 39 accidents occurred in Ohio where a railway crossed a public road and 7 accidents took place at private crossings. These collisions resulted in 7 casualties that year. In 2015, 53 accidents happened at public crossings, while 9 occurred on private property. This led to 10 casualties.

Railroad accidents are not exceedingly common, but there are far too many miles of rail crisscrossing throughout Ohio to ignore the risks and how individuals and families are affected by major car accidents involving trains.

If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a railroad accident, call KNR today at 1-800-HURT-NOW to learn what you can do.

Common Causes of Train Accidents:

• Lack of crossing and warning signs
• Crossing sign or signal errors
• Stalled vehicles on railroad tracks
• Derailments
• Mechanical failure on the train
• Train conductor or other human error
• Distracted drivers or pedestrians

Obtaining Damages for Your Injuries

Train accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians are often catastrophic. Due to the speed and weight of trains, victims of these collisions usually sustain painful and debilitating injuries. Many suffer fatal injuries.

While there are federal and state regulations meant to ensure railroad accidents do not happen, there are clearly still dozens of individuals affected by train accidents every year in Ohio.

If you were hurt in a railroad accident, you may be able to recover compensation, including for:

• Medical expenses
• Lost income
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Disfigurement or disability
• Loss of consortium, which is the loss of a relationship with your spouse

An experienced personal injury attorney can investigate the accident that led to your injuries and analyze the law to determine who may be responsible. The owner of the tracks, the operator of the train, or the municipality responsible for the crossing guards and signals may be liable for your injuries.

Additionally, many train accidents are complex and liability lies between multiple parties. Speak with an attorney at KNR to determine how to identify the responsible party and seek compensation.