Gillette Train Accident Attorneys
Representing Victims of Wyoming Train Accidents
Trains may seem old-fashioned, but they provide an option for people looking to travel without the stress of driving. They are also used every day to transport goods across the country, supporting many industries and providing products for us all. Despite technological advances over the last hundred years, most trains still function essentially the same way. That means that derailments and other serious accidents can happen just as easily now as they did generations ago.
Human error continues to be a major cause of train accidents, which means that ultimately, someone is to blame for these crashes…and it wasn’t the passengers. If you or a loved one has been injured in a Wyoming train accident, you deserve compensation for your suffering. Call a Gillette personal injury lawyer at Steven Titus & Associates, P.C., right now at (307) 257-7800 to discuss your case and talk about the options available to you.
How Can Human Error Cause a Train Accident?
Human error in a train accident usually comes down to an engineer or other railroad employee doing something wrong or foolish. Though the world around us is more automated than ever, trains still have engineers who control their speeds and make sure the journey goes smoothly and safely. A staggering number of train accidents, especially derailments, are caused by engineers not paying attention or missing something important. High speeds and curving train tracks are a recipe for disaster, and accidents have happened numerous times over the last few years.
When companies and track employees fail to properly maintain and repair issues with trains and tracks, it can also cause more avoidable accidents with fatal results.
What Kind of Damage Can a Train Accident Cause?
Like many other types of accidents, train accidents usually cause personal injuries and property damage. Damage can be done to passengers and cargo on the train itself, or to people and property located near the accident. Compared to car crashes, train derailments and collisions are relatively rare, but when one does occur, it often causes millions of dollars of damage.
Injuries to people involved in a train accident may include:
- Severe lacerations
- Broken bones
- Degloving
- Loss of limbs
- Internal organ damage
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Illness or injury from exposure to toxic chemicals
The property damage will often include:
- Damage to cargo on a train
- Damage to vehicles near train tracks
- Damage to homes and buildings near train tracks
- Fires and chemical spills
- Damage to farmland and other property
Who Is Liable for a Train Accident?
In a civil case, liability - that is, legal responsibility - ultimately comes down to who acted in a negligent way that directly caused the accident. If the train’s engineer was texting while approaching a sharp curve and didn’t slow down, he or she might be the one liable for a resulting derailment. However, if you can demonstrate that the engineer was not properly trained by the company running the train, or that the company knew about issues with distractions and did nothing to prevent them, then you may also be able to hold the company liable for what happened.
"Third parties" can also cause train accidents. If someone leaves something on the tracks that causes a derailment, such as a vehicle or large piece of furniture, that person could be liable for the accident. In many cases, multiple parties contributed to the train accident and are all liable for the damages they caused. You need an experienced Wyoming train accident lawyer by your side to investigate the details of the crash and gather evidence of who’s at fault.
How Can Steven Titus & Associates, P.C., Help Me?
We will aggressively fight for your rights and work hard to make sure the people who harmed you are held responsible. The last thing you need after a serious train accident is to worry about filing legal paperwork and reading through a government report on what went wrong. Let us take that burden off your shoulders. Contact our team at Steven Titus & Associates, P.C., at (307) 257-7800 to discuss your Campbell County case for free.
Additional Information
- Federal Railroad Administration
- Railroads - Wyoming Department of Transportation
- Railroads - U.S. Department of Transportation
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