Trains can derail or strike objects such as cars, animals or other obstructions. Trail derailments are, thankfully, uncommon, but when they do happen, they are usually caused by some mistake, negligence, or maintenance failure on the part of the railroad company. Victims of train derailments have a legal right to bring claims for compensation against the railroad company and others. Accidents can be caused by defects in the rails or tracks, or defects in the train equipment, or defects in signaling devices, or train conductor error. A competent train accident lawyer needs to become familiar with New York State and other regulations for railroads and trains.

More common than derailments are train-on-car collisions. There are thousands of railroad crossings on our roads, highways and streets. Usually the railroad companies follow the strict rules and regulations for marking, signaling and guarding these crossings. But sometimes they don't, and this can cause accidents. Also, train conductors can fail to signal, or travel too fast for the crossing, or in other ways contribute to an accident. Many train-on-car collisions are at least partly caused by car drivers who ignore signals or try to drive around the barriers.

Pedestrians are also all too often struck by trains. Even when a train conductor sees a pedestrian or car on the tracks, he often cannot avoid striking them because it takes a train a long time to stop.

Injuries suffered from impacts with trains are usually very severe. Cars trying to cross the tracks are most often struck on the side, in such a way that front-airbags don't deploy or help. The car is then often dragged for some distance before the train comes to a complete stop. Common injuries include severely fractured ribs, legs, arms, paralysis, brain injuries, and death.

As with the victims other types of vehicular accidents, the victim of a train accident can bring a claim for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Michaels & Smolak has recovered millions of dollars for clients injured in train accidents to cover their medical bills, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and more. If you or a loved one has been a victim of a railroad accident, contact us for a free consultation with an experienced lawyer who can inform you of your legal rights and maximize your compensation.