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The Causes and Consequences of Railroad Crossing Accidents

In 2009, 247 people died and 705 were injured in 1,896 incidents at public highway rail crossings in the United States.* These statistics exclude people that were trespassing on railroad property. How do these accidents happen? What should you do if you’ve been hurt or lost a loved one in a New York or New Jersey railroad crossing accident?

How Railroad Crossing Accidents Happen

There are many potential causes of railroad crossing accidents. While a motor vehicle driver’s error is certainly a potential cause, many accidents are caused by these types of negligence on the part of the railroad:
  • The railroad may fail to maintain safety gates, lights, and other barriers used to warn motorists of an approaching train.
  • The railroad may fail to fix visual obstructions, such as overgrown vegetation or broken signs, that warn motorists of approaching trains.
  • The railroad may fail to instruct train operators on proper procedures for approaching a crossing, such as using lights, sounding the horn, and maintaining the proper speed.
  • The train operator may be distracted and fail to take the necessary precautions to prevent accidents.

Of course, there are many other ways in which railroad highway crossing accidents occur. No matter what the cause of the accident, many families are impacted by the injuries and deaths these accidents cause each year.

What to Do if You’ve Been Hurt, or Lost a Loved One in a Railroad Crossing Accident

If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one in a New Jersey or New York railroad crossing accident, you may be entitled to damages. The railroad is unlikely to simply hand over damages to you and may try to make you believe that the accident was your fault. Do not accept a settlement or sign any papers without talking to an experienced New York and New Jersey railroad lawyer. Call Hofmann & Schweitzer today at 1-800-362-9329 or via our online contact form for more information about your rights.

*Source: FHWA Safety, Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing, Facts and Statistics

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