Trains are an essential part of the transportation infrastructure in the United States, carrying both passengers and freight long distances across the country. However, they also pose serious safety risks when accidents occur due to negligence on the part of railroad companies. Understanding the common forms of railroad negligence can help injury victims determine if they have a valid legal claim after a train collision.
Improper Maintenance Can Lead to Equipment Failures
One of the most frequent areas of negligence is improper or deferred maintenance on trains and railroad tracks. Federal regulations require routine inspection and maintenance of all mechanical components related to train operations. This includes replacing broken or worn-out parts regularly, conducting brake tests, ensuring proper lubrication, and inspecting wheels for cracks or flaws. For railroad tracks, maintenance crews need to check the rails for wear and defects, replace rotten ties, trim vegetation encroaching on the tracks, and ensure proper gauge widths.
When companies ignore maintenance requirements in order to cut costs, it dramatically increases the likelihood of a malfunction or derailment. Trains have derailed due to faulty wheels, defective brakes, broken axles, and cracked rails that inspectors failed to identify in time. Accident investigators will review maintenance records closely to identify any deficiencies in the inspection and upkeep processes.
Inadequate Training of Employees Contributes to Accidents
Inadequate employee training is another common railroad negligence factor. Train engineers, conductors, dispatchers, and maintenance workers all need extensive instruction on equipment operations and safety protocols. However, some companies try to rush new hires through training or skip refresher courses for experienced employees. The complexities of operating trains combined with the high speeds make properly trained personnel essential for avoiding catastrophic accidents.
Reckless Dispatching Can Lead to Collisions
Dispatchers also play a key role in preventing collisions by managing train traffic and spacing. Reckless or distracted dispatching can easily lead to rear-end crashes and head-on collisions between trains on the same track. These accidents typically cause the most severe injuries due to the enormous force generated by massive trains slamming into one another.
Excess Speed Increases Risk of Derailments and Collisions
Failure to maintain safe operating speeds is a widespread problem as well. Engineers may speed around curves or through work zones even when posted limits are much lower. Excessive speed dramatically reduces a train’s ability to stop safely and makes derailments much more likely. It also magnifies the damage in crossing and rear-end collisions. Investigators can determine speed from data recorders after an accident and cite speeding as negligence when appropriate.
Poorly Designed Crossings Put Drivers at Risk
In addition, negligence in the design of railroad crossings can contribute to accidents between trains and motor vehicles. Inadequate sight lines, poorly situated gates and signals, confusing signage, and other flaws can lead drivers to enter crossings at the wrong time. Railroad companies have a responsibility to ensure their crossings are engineered to maximize safety for passing traffic.
Consult a Lawyer if You Have Been Injured in a Train Accident
Victims who suffer injuries in a train accident should consult with qualified personal injury attorneys to determine if negligence by a railroad company or its employees played a role. An experienced lawyer can thoroughly investigate the accident, build a case for negligence, and advise you on the best way to recover damages.
Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your situation in complete confidence. Our goal is to obtain the maximum compensation so you can move forward with your recovery.
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