Train Accident Attorney in Queens

When train accidents occur, people are often seriously injured. Some sustain fatal injuries. People who suffer train accident injuries caused by a train operator’s negligence and/or mechanical failure may be legally entitled to claim full compensation for their medical bills and other expenses related to their injuries.

There are several common types of train accidents. They include:

• Train derailments
• Train collisions
• Railroad crossing accidents involving cars, trucks, or pedestrians
• Falls caused by abrupt stops and starts
• Slip and fall accidents on trains, train platforms, or train stations
• Runaway or rollaway equipment, with or without locomotives
• Burns and smoke-inhalation injuries in fires
• Exposure to toxic or hazardous material in spills during derailments or collisions

If you’re injured in a train accident, contact a specialist at Morgan & Morgan to learn more about our legal rights.

Investigations often show multiple reasons why a train accident occurred. Train accidents often involve some combination of human error, failure to follow safety standards, and equipment failure or track obstruction. When a railroad accident causes multiple injuries, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sends an investigative team to take over most aspects of the accident investigation. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) also investigates train accidents in which railroad employees or contractors are killed.

NTSB and FRA reports show that train accidents are often caused by:

• Operator error, including:
• Engineers and conductors distracted by cellphone use
• Engineers and conductors impaired by sleepiness, drugs, and alcohol
• Improper train speed, such as running too fast on a curve, steep grade, or when entering a station
• Not braking in time when approaching a crossing, approaching other trains, or entering a station
• Improper number of train cars, which affects braking and rounding curves
• Incorrect signaling and failing to signal or advise other train operators of intentions
• Failure to ensure main track authority to proceed

Damaged or poorly designed tracks, roadbeds, bridges, switches, and track appliances. The weight of trains, weather, and other wear and tear damages railroad infrastructure. Lapsed maintenance can lead to problems that cause accidents.

Morgan & Morgan is the nation’s largest personal injury law firm, and we have a proven track record of success. We have recovered over $20 billion in damages for our clients and can work to help ensure you receive full and fair compensation. If you’re injured in a train accident, you may be eligible to file a claim for your damages. Contact Morgan & Morgan today to schedule a free consultation with one of our specialists.