Train & Railroad Crossing Accidents

Train-related injuries can result from:

• Urban train accidents involving passenger trains like the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) when:

  • A train collideswith a car, bicyclist, or pedestrian on the track,
  • A person falls off a train platform onto the track,
  • A person falls getting on or off the train.
• Rural railroad crossing accidents involving a freight or passenger train traveling at high speedcolliding and a car or truckat an uncontrolled railroad crossing.
• A train derailment in which atrain jumps the track. This happens more often than you may think. Train derailmentscause serious injuries and deathsto passengers and those around the train. In a freight train derailment, flammable or toxic chemicals may be dumped into the environment, exposing nearby residents to toxic clouds, starting fires, and destroying property.

Railway collisions and train derailments are complex accidents that involve federal and state agencies. In some circumstances a legal claim could involve suing a government agency rather than a private railroad company. This is why you need an experienced train accident lawyeron your side to help you navigate the complex process of getting compensation.

The train accident law firm of Ted B. Lyon & Associates has a passion to win for our clients, regardless of the size of the corporation or government agency on the other side of the aisle in court. We have a proven track record, with 50+ years of successful verdicts and settlements.

Call a train accident lawyer at our firm for a free initial consultation: 877-833-5966. We serve railroad accident clients in Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Lubbock, McAllen, Odessa, Tyler, Wichita Falls, Mesquite, and other communities across north Texas.

Causes of Railroad Accidents

Excessive speed and human error are the most commonreasons investigators give for railroad accidents and train derailments.

• A train conductor going faster than recommended for the train’s type and class increases the chance of train derailment.
• A vehicle driver “racing the train” to a railroad crossing can cause a collision, which can in turn cause a train derailment.
• A railroad worker could fail to follow safety precautions.
• A truck driver or pedestrian could be distracted or impaired by alcohol or drugs.

But it’s not always a driver error. There could be other causes as well:

• Equipment malfunction also contribute to crashes, particularly malfunctioning brakes and defective handbrakes.
• Inadequate track maintenance can cause mechanical failures and derailments. In fact, some 40% of derailments are blamed on track defects.
• Railroad crash investigators also look for evidence of sabotage.

Train Accident Injuries

Train crash injuries tend to be immediate and severe, including crush injuries and loss of limbs, multiple broken bones, and severe head injuries. Train derailments, with fire or toxic exposure, can cause both short- and long-term injuries, including:

• Burn injuries, with scarring and disfigurement
• Blindness
• Lung damage and life-long breathing problems
• Cancer

Beware of a Quick Settlement Offer

Settling a case across a group of people will often fail to consider the unique nature of each person’s injuries and losses. You may have a higher wage and therefore greater wage loss. You may have more serious injuries.

The truth of the matter is, a seemingly quick and easy settlement is likely to be lower than what you can recover with the help of a knowledgeable railroad accident attorney.

Call a DART Train Accident Attorney or Railroad Accident Lawyer

Schedule a free initial consultation by calling 877-Ted-Lyon / 877-833-5966 or contact us online. We handle all personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. That means we only earn our legal fee if we win your case. Home and hospital consultations are available if you are unable to visit our office.

Learn more about our train accident attorneys. Our firm has been recognized in many ways over the years, including selection to the Super Lawyers list and an AV Preeminent Rating* in Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review rating system.

*AV Preeminent is a certification mark of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories: legal ability and ethical standards.