California train accident attorneys are aware of a report that suggests crude oil train derailments are becoming more common across the U.S., and that track failure has been identified as a major factor in over half of these accidents. Crude oil train accidents linked to track failure accounts for more than double the overall rate of freight train accidents, train accident lawyers note.
If you or a loved one has been in a train accident, contact Attorney Group for California today to learn more about your options. We can answer your questions in a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. If you decide to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated train accident lawyer.
Report: At Least Three Derailments Occur In The U.S. Every Day
A recent analysis of national data suggests that the ongoing rise in crude oil train accidents may be due to track failure, which may occur because of the increased burden that crude oil trains create. According to The Los Angeles Times, 59 percent of crude oil crashes that have happened since 2013 have involved track problems, compared to about 27 percent of all train crashes.
Crude oil trains may raise the risk of track failure in multiple ways. Fully loaded crude oil tankers put excessive weight on tracks and allow oil to slosh, exposing the tracks to even greater forces. Crude oil transportation also may be driving the overall increase in train freight and associated wear on infrastructure. Since 2001, the total ratio of tonnage to travel mileage has jumped 24 percent.
Although the Federal Railroad Administration has enacted policies to address this growing threat, critics worry that these policies don’t focus enough on prevention. Every day, at least three derailments occur in the U.S, about two-thirds of which result in explosions, fires or other potentially dangerous situations, the website reported.
Injured Drivers or Passengers May Be Entitled to Compensation
Train drivers and train owners have a duty to make sure that they operate and maintain their trains in a safe manner. If this duty is not fulfilled, fatal accidents may occur, and the train driver or train company can be held liable for injuries that may result.
Train drivers, passengers or bystanders who are injured in train accidents may be entitled to compensation for damages resulting from their injuries, including:
- Medical expenses
- Loss of income or ability to work
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish resulting from an injury
If a driver, passenger or bystander is killed in a train accident, his or her family members may be able to pursue compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one. Wrongful death damages can include:
- Mental anguish, and pain and suffering from the loss of a loved one
- Loss of relationship or financial support of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
- Conscious pain and suffering or a loved one prior to death
People who have been injured in a train accident are advised to seek a qualified train accident lawyer to help them protect their legal rights.
Contact Us For More Information
If you have been injured, or a loved one killed in a train accident, contact Attorney Group for California to learn more about your options. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for California today.
