Causes of Railroad Accidents
Railroad accidents, because it almost always certainly leads to high number of fatalities, are one of the most devastating vehicle mishaps. Even with that, trains are still a preferred mode of transportation of most American to get to their destination.
Before 1853, very few railroad accidents ever happen. With trains running in slow speeds and short trips, the possibility of an accident was miniscule. In addition, the number of trains back then were small and night travel was rare. Now, it is different. About 3000 railroad accidents happen each year and about 1,000 die due to these accidents.
Just in 2008, at least 18 people died and more than 135 people were injured because of a Los Angeles Railroad Accident.
Common Causes of Railroad Accidents
There are a number of scenarios that could cause railroad accidents.
Here are some of the most common causes of railroad accidents:
- Improper maintenance of railroads that leads to defects in the tracks.
- Mechanical failure
- Improper loading or over loading of cargo
- Improper switching
- Waste materials or hazardous chemicals on board the train
- Defective equipment including train controls and locomotive horns
- Defective signals
- Not enough train security
- Defects in railroad crossing and highway rail
- Collapsed bridge
- Collision with another form of vehicle (buses, cars, trucks)
- Train crews that are under the influence of drugs or alcohol
According to a study by the National Transportation Safety Board, the primary cause of railroad accidents involved human error. They performed investigations of different train accidents to find out the human factor in these disasters. The most common human errors they found out are the following:
- Train crews failing to follow the train control signals.
- Failing to abide by the operating procedures when in dark or non-signaled areas.
- Failing to follow other definite rules, i.e., returning the track switches to normal position completing tasks at track sidings.
Prevention
A number of safety precautions have been placed to prevent railroad accidents from happening. Two that most people are aware of are safety signs and safety gates.Safety signs inform and alert vehicle drivers that there is a railroad crossing ahead and a train may be approaching so as to take precautions.
Another safety feature placed are safety gates. These are placed on railroad crossings to stop oncoming traffic from crossing the railroad if there is an approaching train. These features have greatly reduced railroad accidents that involved crashes with trains and other vehicles.
Getting Help
Being involved in a railroad accident can be very traumatic for a victim. A number of injuries can be sustained from lacerations and cuts to fractured bones and even spinal and head injuries. Be sure to consult an attorney who specializes in railroad accidents to help you get what you deserve for the injuries you sustained. A good railroad accident lawyer can help you recover economic and non economic losses.
About the Author
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