Train accidents can change Missouri and Illinois lives in an instant, often leading to serious injuries or — in the most severe cases — death. Innocent victims who are injured or killed in train accidents through no fault of their own leave families struggling to cope with grief and extensive medical bills. This is one reason that personal injury and wrongful death laws were created. A successfully litigated civil lawsuit can result in financial restitution to help struggling families manage their financial burdens while they try to cope with emotional and often physical pain.
The Fourth of July holiday weekend turned tragic for one family in another state when a train struck their car as they were crossing the railroad tracks. That particular crossing, which led to and from a popular boat landing in the area, had neither hazard lights nor a crossing gate to warn cars of approaching trains. The collision between train and family car occurred around 5 p.m. on July 5, dealing fatal injuries to a woman and sending a man and child via life flight to a regional medical center.
Many area residents and boaters were present at the lake to enjoy the holiday fireworks. The three occupants of the car had just been at a holiday event on the boat landing with family members before they attempted to cross the railroad tracks. The force of the collision with the train shoved their vehicle at least 45 yards before flipping it over and into nearby brush.
Patrons of a hotel bar just across from where the fatal train accident occurred rushed outside after hearing the collision to see what was going on. The owner of the hotel and his girlfriend pulled up to Fall’s Hotel soon after the crash and immediately suspected something had happened. According to them, trains never sat on the tracks in that area, so they knew something wasn’t right. Investigators reportedly conducted a reconstruction of the fatal collision in an effort to determine what may have caused or contributed to it. Traffic in the area was blocked off from exiting the boat landing for some time due to the train being in the way of the access road leading out. Reports indicate that the train was moved at approximately 9 p.m. so authorities could take possession of the car.
It wasn’t immediately clear exactly what cargo the train may have been transporting, or its speed at the time of the deadly crash. The train’s speed may well play a vital role in the official investigation, as will any factors such as potential intoxication or distraction on the part of the train’s operator.
This accident seems especially tragic in light of the fact it occurred on a holiday that is normally celebratory for American families. Now, this family is left to mourn the loss of a woman and hoping that the man and child survive their injuries. Additionally, medical and funeral expenses will likely be mounting. Considering that there was no railroad crossing gate or lights to warn motor vehicle operators in the area, this family may find themselves wishing to pursue a wrongful death and/or personal injury lawsuit on behalf of the victims in the car. This could lead to an award of financial damages which they could use to pay for the woman’s unexpected funeral costs, and to help the man and child as they recover from their own injuries.
Train accidents can be devastating, considering the sheer size of locomotives and the speed with which they often strike much smaller motor vehicles. Please call my St. Louis personal injury law firm at 1-888-586-7041, toll-free, to discuss whether you might be able to pursue a civil lawsuit against the train operator and/or railroad company believed responsible for causing the collision with your or your loved one’s vehicle. We accept cases on a contingency basis, so we are paid nothing until and only if we collect money on your behalf.
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Source Article: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/07/train_crash_newberry_township.html