Collision Between Car and Train in Austin Leaves One Person Injured
According to recent statistics from the Federal Railroad Administration, Texas leads the United States in railroad crossing collisions, with more than 180 in 2020. From those collisions, 67 people suffered injuries and 11 people were killed. Train crashes continue to be a regular occurrence, with a collision in March between a MetroRail train and a passenger car in Austin serving as just one prominent example. Injury victims in train-vehicle collisions may suffer severe damages, and they are often eligible for compensation through a personal injury claim.
Texas Train Accident Negligence
Train accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, with some of the most common cases involving a train derailing due to operator error or obstructions or defects on the railroad tracks. In such cases, injured train passengers often have a claim for compensation from a negligent operator or the company responsible for employing the operator or maintaining the train or tracks.
However, negligence can be more complicated in collisions at railroad crossings because of the involvement of passenger vehicles with drivers who may be partially responsible. For example, a driver who is injured in a collision with a train after disregarding a railroad crossing signal may find it more difficult to recover compensation due to their contributory negligence. However, a train operator can also be liable for railroad crossing accidents, perhaps due to leaving the station without receiving proper clearance or failing to stop to avoid a collision despite having reasonable time to do so.
Often, passengers of either the train or the car suffer the most serious injuries in a railroad crossing collision, generally due to no fault of their own. In order to recover compensation, injured passengers will likely need to work with an attorney who can help them determine which party or parties were negligent in causing the injuries.
Injuries From Texas Train Crashes
Vehicle occupants who are struck by a train, especially one traveling at a high rate of speed, are at risk of suffering serious injuries, from traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, to broken bones, to burn injuries in accidents that cause a fire or explosion. These types of injuries can have far-reaching impacts on a person’s life. If you have suffered a severe injury in a train crash, you may be able to recover compensation for not only your medical bills but also your lost wages due to disability and your physical and mental pain and suffering.
Contact a New Braunfels, TX Car Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in an accident with a train, bus, big-rig truck, or other large vehicle, The Bettersworth Law Firm can represent you to help you recover fair compensation. Call a New Braunfels personal injury attorney today at 830-443-9193 for a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/north-austin-parmer-lane-train-vehicle-crash-march-16/269-36ee28c2-bbde-48b3-b16c-c998ec98c8a4
https://oli.org/track-statistics/collisions-fatalities-state
