Top 3 Causes of Car Train Collisions in US

According to a US Department of Transportation report, there are about 5,800 car-train accidents each year. Most of these car-train collisions and derailments happen at railroad crossings.

At least 50 percent of car-train accidents involved insufficient safety equipments and devices. More than 600 people were killed each year as a result of car-train collisions.

Car-train accidents usually involve impaired driving and mechanical failure. Car drivers often enter the railroad crossing at night and get hit by a passing train. In some cases, trains encounter technical troubles and hit vehicles.

Here are the top three common causes of car-train collision:

1. Maintenance failure- At times, train operators fail to follow maintenance schedule and encounter technical troubles during actual operation. Maintenance is considered crucial along the railroad crossing.

Defective train operation parts are also factors in car-train accidents. It includes faulty brakes, system controls, and other mechanical parts. Failure to maintain around the railroad crossing and the station also causes car-train accidents.

2. Impaired driving- Either the train operator or the car driver is using cellphone at the time of accident. Texting while driving is a form of impaired driving and is a violation of California cellphone ban law. Such action constitutes a negligent act and has corresponding penalties in court. Texting while driving can cause the person to lose focus and reduce response time.

When a train operator talks on the cellphone, supposed signal or brakes can fail to be applied on time. A distracted driver can fail to apply engine's horn to give warning.

3. Safety gate failure- When the safety gate bars are defective, it will fail to drop down and warn incoming vehicles. Such situation can cause the car to get caught on tracks and get hit by the train.

Such condition can be worse when the vehicle gets stuck in traffic jam and has limited alternative emergency action.

If you or your loved one is injured in a car-train accident, you may consult with a Personal Injury lawyer in Los Angeles to help you file a lawsuit. It allows you to prove who’s at fault or clarify fault in the accident; and recover damages.

An experienced personal Injury attorney can help you obtain evidence for your case such as information in: black box data recorder, security cameras, and system operations. He/she can also conduct an assessment on the sufficiency of safety signals in and around the accident scene.

Consult with an experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorney to learn more about car train collisions and derailments.