Train accidents can be much more complex, frequently involving government entities or large corporations with powerful legal teams. Additionally, federal and state regulations specific to railroads apply. You need an attorney with specific experience in train accidents who is capable of addressing these unique legal hurdles.
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Commuter Train Accidents
Chicago Commuter Train Accident Lawyers
Experienced Commuter Train Accidents Attorney On Your Side
Commuter trains are an immense convenience that allows mass numbers of commuters to get to work – and other places they need to be – each day while also reducing their carbon footprint, helping to alleviate traffic congestion, and subtracting the hassle of parking from the commuting equation. When commuter train accidents happen, however, they tend to be as dangerous as their claims are complicated. If you or someone you love has been injured in a commuter train accident, you need an experienced Chicago train accident attorney in your corner.
Train Accidents: Why They Happen
Train accidents – just like other kinds of accidents – are often the result of human error. Train engineers, for example, are just as susceptible to driver negligence as anyone else is, but when they do engage in negligent practices, the stakes are even higher.Â
Engineer Negligence
When a train engineer is distracted by anything other than driving the commuter train in question safely, dangerous accidents can ensue. Engineers owe their train passengers a serious duty of care that excludes dangerous distractions and other forms of negligence. Further, when a train engineer chooses to exceed a speed that is safe, he or she allows less time for avoiding collisions and helps to ensure that any resulting accidents will be that much more serious.
The Commuter Train Company
The commuter train company also bears significant responsibility when it comes to train accidents. Track and roadbed maintenance is essential to safe commuter trains, and when this important form of maintenance isn’t prioritized, it sets the stage for dangerous train accidents, which can include life-threatening derailments. Mechanical failure is another issue that frequently causes or contributes to deadly commuter train accidents and for which commuter train companies are ultimately responsible.Â
Common Causes of Commuter Train Accidents
While every commuter train accident is unique to the circumstances involved, the majority fall into the following general categories of cause:
- Engineers who speed or are exhausted, distracted, or otherwise negligent
- Engineers who are reckless
- Inadequate maintenance of train beds and tracks
- Inadequate inspections of trains and/or tracks
- Equipment that is defective
- Equipment or mechanical failures
- Train platforms that are made slippery or otherwise dangerous by spills, debris, uneven surfaces, and other tripping hazards
- Slipping or tripping hazards onboard the trains themselves
- Railroad crossings that are inadequately marked and/or protected
- Railroad tracks that are littered with debris or other objects
Commuter train accidents happen, and they put many people at risk of being seriously injured.Â
Consult with an Experienced Train Accident Attorney in Chicago Today
If you or someone you love has been injured in a commuter train accident, the dedicated train accident attorneys at Saks, Robinson & Rittenberg, Ltd., in Chicago understand the serious nature of your claim and are well prepared to help. Your recovery very likely hinges on your ability to obtain just compensation that covers your damages in their entirety, so please don’t wait to contact us for more information about how we can help you today.
FAQs About Commuter Train Accidents in Illinois
Who can be held liable for injuries in a train accident?
Potential liable parties may include the train engineer, the commuter train company (such as Metra or CTA), maintenance contractors, equipment manufacturers (if a part was defective), or even government entities in some cases. We identify every responsible party to maximize your potential compensation.
I tripped and fell on a train platform. Is the train company responsible?
They might be. Train companies must keep platforms safe for commuters. If you fell due to a hazardous condition like a spill, debris, uneven surfaces, or poor lighting that the company knew or should have known about, you may have a valid claim under premises liability.
Can I file a claim if the accident was a derailment?
Derailments are catastrophic events that may be caused by neglected track maintenance or operator error. These cases often require immediate legal intervention to secure the crash site and investigate the condition of the roadbed and rails before evidence is repaired or removed.
What if the train engineer was speeding?
Speeding is a form of engineer negligence. Engineers must adhere to strict speed limits to ensure passenger safety. If we can prove the engineer was traveling at an unsafe speed which reduced their ability to avoid a collision, you may have a strong claim against the engineer and their employer.
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