Train Accidents More Common Than You Think, Especially in Illinois

Train accidents are not as common as car accidents. But when they do occur, the damage is often very serious. And even while new safety measures continue to be put in place, train fatalities have actually increased overall from 2013 to 2016, and Illinois’ accident rate has often been at the top of the list.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis, 64 people were killed in train accidents in 2015. And so far, already 53 people have been killed in 2016, and another 562 people have been injured. There was a 17 percent increase in train accident and incident fatalities from 2013 to 2016—and only based on the numbers for this year so far. Amtrak, a large private train company, has recorded six fatalities in Amtrak incidents so far in 2016.

In Illinois, already 49 people have been injured in train accidents this year, and three have been killed. There were 22 train accidents in Illinois in 2015, the highest of any state that year. There were 23 the previous year, which was again the highest in the nation. Train accidents often give rise to negligence claims. Even if the victim was partly responsible for causing the crash, he or she still may be able to receive damages, based on the degree of fault assigned to each of the parties.

Man Killed After Being Hit By Amtrak Train near Galva, Illinois

Yet another train accident occurred earlier this month in Illinois. According to one news source, a 65-year-old man from Kewanee was hit by an Amtrak train on April 14, 2016. The train was traveling westbound from Chicago to Quincy, Illinois. The train had just stopped in Kewanee and was traveling near Galva when the train hit a semi tractor and trailer the man was driving on the tracks. The man was hauling grain in the semi tractor and appeared to have been crossing the tracks to enter a private driveway that intersected with the train tracks. There were two stop signs at the intersection.

The man was hit and pronounced dead at the scene. Almost 50 passengers were on the train that morning. The train was damaged, and service was interrupted. Passengers had to be picked up by a charter bus in order to get them to their destination. Passengers reported objects flying through the train when the crash occurred. Luckily, no injuries were reported among passengers. However, the semi-truck driver lost his life that day, adding to the many fatalities each year throughout the country.

Have You Been in an Accident?

If you have been involved in a train accident or another accident, you may be entitled to compensation—even in cases in which the injured party is partly at fault. The Chicago lawyers at Moll Law Group can assist victims of train accidents, car accidents, and other incidents of negligence involving transportation. Billions of dollars have been recovered in cases in which we have been involved. We represent accident victims throughout the Chicago area, including in Naperville, Wheaton, Schaumburg, and communities across Cook County. Contact us via our online form or call us at 312-462-1700 to set up a free consultation.

See More Posts:

Government’s Inability to Pay Settlements During Budget Stalemate Example of Obstacles When Suing a Government, Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog, April 23, 2016.

Recent Case Discusses How Settlement Terms Can Bar All Future Claims, Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog, March 1, 2016.

Court Considers Causation Issues in Defective Gun Case, Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog, March 8, 2016.