Railroad Accidents - Railroad Accident Statistics

Railroad accidents are a common occurrence and affect thousands of communities across the country. When viewed on a case-by-case basis, railroad accidents seem to be rare events. But statistics show that the dangers railroad accidents pose to safety are a real and continuous threat. The following statistics from 2006 may help shed light on the hazards of train crashes:

• Every 40 minutes, a train is involved in a collision, derailment, or other incident.
• The technology rail companies employ is decades old, sometimes over 70 years old. In many cases this includes railroad safety technology.
• Every two weeks, a railroad accident involving hazardous waste or other hazardous cargo occurs.
• The railroad industry is mostly self-regulating and is not expressly regulated by the federal government.
• More than half of railroad accidents occur at crossings with insufficient protection or caution measures. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, in some cases, a single crossing will be the site of as many as eight serious accidents in one year.
• While railroad accidents involving vehicles have dropped in past years, railroad accidents involving pedestrians have increased.
• Communities often struggle to have influence on railroad traffic in their area. In some cases, slowed or stopped trains can result in local emergency response teams having to wait several minutes or longer to respond to their calls.

If you or a loved one has suffered an injury, permanent damage or death in a railroad accident, call VanDerGinst Law at 1-866-843-7367 or click here for a FREE online case evaluation. The initial consultation is free of charge. If we agree to handle your injury case, we will work on a contingency fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if, and when, there is a money recovery for you. In many cases a lawsuit must be filed before an applicable expiration date, known as a statute of limitations. So please call right away to ensure that you do not waive your right to possible compensation.