Texas Truck Wreck Attorney Blog

There have been an unusually high number of public transportation accidents across the country this year. Several high profile public bus collisions have provoked a call for legislative review of current regulations.

Now, an Amtrak train collided with a truck at a rural crossing, according to reports - and although there were on mild to moderate injuries of Amtrak passengers (and the driver and passenger in the truck were uninjured as well) the circumstances lead many to call for a review of train safety and regulations as well.

To begin with the maximum speed allowed through the area is 79 mph. Some professionals feel that trains should be required to slow down when they near a crossing. Even more upsetting, though, is the fact that this particular crossing has no lights or gates - and without these warning devices many drivers may be simply unaware that a railroad crossing exists.

This appears to be the case in this accident. A little railroad crossing sign can be easily overlooked in the middle of the night in an area in which a driver is unfamiliar.
In all 39 people were treated at the hospital for bumps and bruises only. A fortunate ending to an event that was rife with the potential for disaster.

Frankly, if I had been a passenger on the train or truck I would consider legal action.

Trains have responsibilities to make sure that their crossings are not unreasonably dangerous and that they act appropriately at crossings.

Continue reading "Train Accident Injures 39" »

Deadly train accidents happen on a regular basis around the country. They can usually be attributed to one of two factors - either driver or pedestrian carelessness or a deliberate attempt on their part to 'outrun' a train or a lack of adequate warning to the driver or pedestrian that they have either come upon a train crossing or that a train is hurtling down the track directly for them.

It is rare that a person is able to walk away from a train accident. Consider the following two incidents.

For the time being law enforcement officials are unable to determine the reason a Seattle woman's car ventured onto railroad tracks Thanksgiving night and was struck by an oncoming train. She died from her injuries at the scene. According to railroad officials she was the 19th fatality on railroad property in that state alone for the year. (A piece of information like that is a red flag that the railroad is negligent in securing the safety of others).

In a second incident here in Texas a teenage boy was struck and killed by a train as he walked (apparently unaware of the fact that a train was headed straight for him) on the tracks.

In both instances a family has been left in mourning with more questions than answers and there is no doubt that the family will want answers.

Continue reading "Train Accidents " »

Did you ever try to beat a train? I mean - as a teenager or because you were in a hurry and simply couldn't wait at the crossing till the train passed or maybe had a little too much to drink and your judgment was impaired?

Have you ever sat at the crossing with the crossing arms down and thought about going around them because the train appeared to be traveling too slowly? Or have you just missed getting hit by a train because you failed to stop at the stop sign and look both ways before proceeding?

Well, if you have tried to beat a train you're not the first - but gamble too often and it may be your last. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation there are an average of 5800 vehicle-train crashes annually in this country causing the deaths of 600 people and horrific injuries to the rest. Be guaranteed that any encounter between a passenger car that weighs around 3000 pounds and a train that weighs in at around several hundred tons will favor the train coming out of the accident more unscathed than the car.

The most common statistic offered to people meant to help them understand the awesome power of a train is that a train traveling 50 miles an hour and 150 cars in length takes at least a mile to stop.

Finally, while accidents that occur in daylight hours are a case of the train impacting with the car in over 75% of the cases - at night the car hits the train at least 50% of the time. Always stop at unprotected train stops and look both ways before proceeding.

Continue reading "Train Accidents" »