Minnesota Railroad Crossing Lawyer
The railroad crossings in Minnesota are very dangerous and can have devastating results. Trains are large and they travel with extreme momentum. As a matter of fact, it can be very difficult for a train to stop in short distances. It is ideal for the engineer to put the brakes on at least a mile before stopping the train, but when an obstacle, such as a motor vehicle is in the way, it is hard to stop. Then again, the engineer has a responsibility to look out for vehicles and other obstacles. It is also important that railroad crossings are maintained properly. This means electric signals and gates must be in working order at all times. A Minnesota railroad crossing crash lawyer has seen it all.
With the United States having over 600 railroads with 200,000 miles of track, there is plenty of room for accidents. On these tracks there are approximately 20,000 locomotives and 1.2 million freight cars using them to complete certain tasks. This is why there are approximately 3,000 train accidents per year and 1,000 of the people involved in these accidents die.
Where Do Railroad Crossing Accidents Occur?
Most railroad crossing accidents occur in rural areas where gates and electrical signals may not always work. But it is important that the railroads maintain these two very important components. If an accident occurs due to these safety items not functioning, the railroad can be held liable. It is estimated that 60% of fatalities occur as a result of unprotected crossings. Unfortunately, about 80% of railroad crossings are not protected by safety gates or warning lights.
Causes Of Railroad Accidents
The most common type of railroad crossing accident is a collision with a train. Other causes of accidents include:
- Railroad crossings that are not properly marked
- Railroad crossings without safety gates
- The train’s engineer does not sound warning whistles
- The tracks are not properly maintained
- The railroad crossing is not properly maintained
- A mechanical failure or defect exists
- The driver is inexperienced or fatigued
If any of these causes cause your accident, you may have a legal claim against the railroad. A St. Paul railroad crossing crash attorney will help you to determine fault and bring a lawsuit against the responsible party so that you do not have to pay the monetary damages for an accident that you did not cause.
Minnesota Railroad Crash Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a railroad crossing accident in Minnesota or a loved one has been killed due to negligence on the part of the railroad, call us or fill out the form on this site for your free no-obligation consultation. You should not have to deal with the pain and suffering that comes with such an accident, but the physical and emotional pain may always be there. What doesn’t have to be there is the financial consequences of an accident that was not your fault.