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February 1st, 2006 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

Railroads, Crossings and You

History shows that wagon ways consisting of wooden rails laid down on the road were being used by the Germans as far back as 1550. Wagon wheels were set on the wooden rails allowing horses to pull their cargo easier and faster than on the rutted dirt roads. In 1825, the first railroad to carry both goods and passengers was started and by 1830, the U.S. had its first American-built Steam Locomotive operating on a common-carrier railroad. After that, the rest “is history”.

Trains and the railroad have always held a certain fascination that many people just can’t get enough of. Fathers and sons build small cities around complex railroad systems in their basements. Families ride the train to visit grandma and grandpa six states away and the kids get to sleep in the Pullman cars and poke their heads out the window, calling to cows in the pastures as they speed by.

As towns have become more populated, however, the railroad crossings have become a potential death trap. While many railroad crossings are equipped with automatic warning devices, including gates that lower as trains approach, the majority of crossings do not have anything other than flashing lights that signal oncoming train traffic.

Railroad crossing accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. Here are some other examples:

· Stopped trains obscuring the view of moving trains

· Trains moving too fast

· Defective signals or gates

· Crossings obscured by trees or other overgrown foliage

· Trains failing to signal properly when approaching crossings

· Vehicle drivers trying to beat the train

· Vehicle drivers trying to dodge the gate as it lowers

There have even been reports of people mistaking the Train Tracks for a roadway and getting stuck on the tracks. Of course, there’s the popular movie scene where the car stalls on the tracks and the train is fast approaching. If the passengers in the vehicle are lucky enough to survive any of these situations, their injuries are most likely permanent and life-threatening. More often than not, the injuries will include any of the following:

· Paralysis

· Coma

· Brain injuries

· Spinal cord injuries

· Decapitation

· Amputation

· Death

Railroad engineers and passenger vehicles both have rules they are supposed to obey to help maintain safety for all parties involved. Those rules aren’t always followed and serious, if not catastrophic, results can occur.

About the Author

If you have been injured in a railroad accident, contact the attorneys at The Florida Firm today to learn more about your rights.

Pullman Passenger