Railroad & Train Accidents

The Daily Herald reports that an Illinois train collision claimed the life of one bicyclist on Monday, June 25. The victim, who officials estimate is around 30-years-old, was crossing from the outbound to inbound platform when he was struck around 6:30 a.m. in Hanover Park. The bicyclist had attempted to ride across the pedestrian crossing, which had activated lights and bells, according to a Metra spokeswoman. The inbound train, No. 2208, was not scheduled to stop at the Hanover Park station.

Officials were still in the process of trying to notify the victim’s family on Monday evening and were withholding his name until family members were notified. Metra officials said that initial indications were that the tragic collision was an accident, but the Metra spokeswoman states that the “coroner will have the final ruling.” Immediately following the accident, inbound and outbound Milwaukee District West Line trains were stopped, experiencing delays of about an hour Monday morning.

The wrongful death attorneys in Chicago of the Bradley Law Firm understand how difficult the loss of a loved one is, and know that the sudden death of a family member or friend can leave those left behind with more questions than answers. Our dedicated legal team is committed to getting answers for those a victim left behind and will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident, making sure anyone who is responsible is held legally accountable.

To see how we can help you during this difficult time, call (312) 252-1488. Your initial consultation is complimentary, and your information will be kept confidential.

A 52-year-old man struck by a Red Line train has sadly succumbed to his injuries, according to The Chicago Tribune. The Chicago resident was struck by a CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) train after he fell onto the train tracks at the Bryn Mawr station on the North Side of Chicago at approximately 4:45 p.m. on March 26. Firefighters removed the man from the tracks and he was immediately transported to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center for treatment of his critical injuries. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office reports, however, that the 52-year-old man was later pronounced dead at 7:21 p.m.

Presently, it is unknown whether the victim jumped or fell onto the train tracks. Power was temporarily shut off in both directions as emergency crews dealt with the situation following the Chicago train accident.

Train accidents, though they do not occur as frequently as other types of accidents, are very serious and can result in life-threatening injuries. Approximately every 115 minutes, a person or a vehicle is hit by a train. Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) shows there are 5,800 vehicle-train collisions that happen each year in the U.S., resulting in 600 fatalities and 2,300 injuries. A majority of these train accidents occur at railroad crossings. It is imperative Illinois residents exercise caution when near any railroad or train tracks to avoid a serious accident.

The Illinois train accident attorneys of the Bradley Law Firm are dedicated to helping train accident victims obtain the compensation they deserve when the collision was caused by another’s negligence. Our firm has years of experience helping accident victims, and we will work tirelessly to ensure any at-fault parties are held accountable. For a consultation regarding your accident claim, please call (312) 252-1488.

An accident this week that involved two vehicles and a train caused Roosevelt Road, between Geneva and West Chicago, to be closed for approximately 90 minutes. The Beacon-News reports that a 51-year-old resident of West Chicago lost control of his van on the Union Pacific railroad tracks near the intersection due to icy conditions; subsequently, it crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a car driven by a St. Charles resident. The car then went off the roadway and struck a pole. The van stalled on the railroad tracks, but fortunately the driver escaped the vehicle before it was hit by an eastbound Metra commuter train. None of the 25 passengers on board the commuter train were injured, and the driver of the car was transported to the hospital with only minor injuries.

This motor vehicle and train accident could have been much more serious and resulted in life-threatening injuries, so it serves as an important reminder to Illinois residents to drive extra cautiously in the winter months. Here are some tips to help all motorists drive safely in icy conditions:

• Make sure all passengers are wearing seat belts.
• For better visibility, use the defroster and windshield wipers.
• Give ample warning time to other drivers when turning, changing lanes, or stopping.
• Leave plenty of distance between you and other vehicles.
• If your vehicle does not have antilock brakes, pump the brakes slowly and gently; constant pressure may cause the brakes to lock.
• In the unfortunate event you skid, be sure to turn your wheels in the direction of the skid.
• Melting ice can cause very slippery road conditions, so be sure to drive slowly!

Passenger vans are a very popular means of transport, but they can also pose unique hazards to drivers as some models are defectively designed and may be dangerous or unstable. Passenger vans are also more likely to be involved in rollover accidents. All of these factors, combined with driver negligence or icy weather conditions, may endanger other motorists on the road and could lead to a very serious crash. The Chicago van accident lawyers of the Bradley Law Firm can help any IL resident who has been involved in an accident with a van receive compensation for their injuries. For a no-cost consultation with our legal team, call (312) 252-1488.

The recent derailment of a Canadian National (CN) Railway freight train has caused some officials to worry about the possibility of future railway accidents, railroad safety, and the safety of Illinois residents, according to The Herald News. Twenty-two cars of the CN freight train, two of which were carrying hazardous materials, derailed while it was travelling between Bartlett and Elgin, causing a fire on the tracks. Commuter service was disrupted, but fortunately no one was injured in this Cook County derailment.

Illinois officials have expressed concern over whether the EJ & E tracks could handle the length, number, and volume of freight trains that are expected to roll through towns such as New Lenox, Matteson, and Frankfort. According to The Herald News, Will County executive Larry Walsh states “This (derailment) just solidifies our concern.” CN freight trains regularly travel through residential areas and cross several major streets, making the safety of Southland residents an additional concern as hazardous materials are carried throughout these populated areas.

State officials explain that while they can’t prevent dangerous train accidents, they are as prepared as they can be, training emergency responders in the event of a railway accident. Though the state can try and take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of train employees and Southland residents, there is always the regrettable possibility that a serious crash may occur.

If you have been injured in a railroad or train accident, you have the right to hold any negligent or at-fault parties responsible and receive compensation for your injuries. The Chicago train accident lawyers of The Bradley Law Firm can help you in the event you are involved in an Illinois train accident. Please call (312) 252-1488 for a free consultation on your case.

The Union Pacific Safety Express train transported approximately 100 community members and home-schooled students from Benton to Marion and back while educating them about how to stay safe around locomotives, especially at railroad crossings. According to The Chicago Tribune, the goal of the Safety Express is to raise awareness about railroad safety, particularly for motorists.

The Benton Police Chief considers railroad crossing safety a top priority as railroad crossings have been the site of multiple horrendous accidents. Benton has been railroad-crossing-accident free for one year thanks to an increased focus on education and enforcement. Regular railroad safety checks allow police to cite violations and promote safe practices on the part of Illinois motorists.

According to the Union Pacific safety manager, many railroad injury accidents and fatal accidents are caused by driver inattention and/or impatience. A Union Pacific train engineer has seen motorists speeding up to beat the train and even some going around the safety gates. Sometimes a motorist won’t even notice the train and drive right in front of it or into its side. Motorists and pedestrians have a responsibility to be cautious at railroad crossings and around trains, but sometimes the cause of an Illinois train accident is outside their control.

Illinois railroad accidents can be caused by a mechanical malfunction, poorly maintained or repaired tracks, engineer error, distracted train operation, or lack of appropriate safety features at a railroad crossing. Any of these can cause an inadvertent derailment and/or collision with another train or vehicle. If you have been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of a train operator, poorly maintained tracks or train, or improperly designated railroad crossing, the at-fault party may be held liable for your accident-related losses.

At The Bradley Law firm, our skilled Chicago railroad accident attorneys can help you seek damages from negligent parties to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering associated with your injuries. To discuss your potential claim with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers, please call us today at 312-252-1488 for a free confidential consultation.

A train stopped in the middle of the night caused two separate car crashes which left three people injured, two of them critically, on Monday, February 14, according to a report in The Chicago Sun-Times. A 44-year-old man was driving a Nissan Maxima when he plowed into the side of a stopped train. Another vehicle crashed into the same train on the opposite side shortly after the first accident occurred. According to the driver of the first vehicle, there weren’t any lights, flares, or barriers alerting motorists to the stopped train, which police confirmed. The lights had been purposely disabled by Chicago Rail Link due to “snow build-up and salt” which had caused the signals to stop working. In these types of circumstances, police said that a crew is supposed to flag traffic down and stay at the site of the stopped train until the train had passed, though protocol can vary depending on the layout of a railway crossing.

The Chicago car accidents are still under investigation to determine whether or not proper protocol was followed by the train’s crew. Further investigation of the accidents will conclude whether negligence was a contributing factor and, if so, Chicago Rail Link could be held legally responsible for the injuries sustained by the three victims involved in the crashes.

If you have been involved in a collision with a train and you sustained serious injury as a result, you would be well-advised to contact the dedicated Illinois train accident injury attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm. With years of experience and a vast network of legal resources, we will examine the details of the crash and build a strong case on your behalf to ensure that your legal rights are protected. We will fight to ensure that all negligent parties are held accountable for your injury and related losses and that you recover the compensation you deserve. Let The Bradley Law Firm help you understand your rights. Call 1-800-360-5072 for a free consultation.

The Chicago Tribune reports that deaths related to train-vehicle collisions at Illinois railroad crossings increased in 2010 for the first time in five years.

According to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), last year between January and November, 17 train-vehicle accident related fatalities were reported. This increase in fatalities reversed a five year decline in train-vehicle crash deaths between 2005 and 2009. In the full year of 2007, there were 16 such deaths; 15 in 2008; and 10 deaths in 2009 involving vehicles and trains in the state.

The occurrence of train-vehicle collisions also increased in 2010, up to 76 during the first nine months of the year. In the full year of 2007, there were 130 train-vehicle crashes; 129 in 2008; and 80 in 2009. The decline in accidents in 2009 is attributed to fewer vehicles on state roads and less train traffic because of the nation’s weak economy. The ICC estimates train-vehicle accidents will top 130 for 2010 once all crashes are counted.

Unfortunately, motorists often drive recklessly and sometimes speed through railroad crossings in an attempt to beat an oncoming train, which not only puts their life and their passengers’ in danger, but those on the train as well, in addition to any pedestrians or bicyclists that may be nearby. Motorists can also be driving distracted, perhaps by using their cell phone or eating, and not realize a train is quickly approaching and drive through a railroad crossing, which can cause an accident. Additionally, as a previous blog post noted, not all railroad crossings in the United States are equipped with the same type of equipment to warn oncoming motorists of an approaching train. Only around 42,000 crossings have gates to block traffic from driving through a crossing if a train is oncoming, and a mere 22,000 crossings have flashing lights to warn motorists of an approaching train.

If you have been injured in a train-vehicle crash in Illinois, contact The Bradley Law Firm. Our Chicago train accident lawyers can explain your legal options to you and help you determine if another’s negligence contributed to your accident, as well as explain what compensation may be available to you. Contact us today by calling 800-360-5072 to schedule a free consultation.

Railroad and train accidents are rare compared to car accidents, but they have the potential to be much more dangerous, even deadly. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently released statistics on 2009 railroad crossing accidents.

In 2009, there were 136,041 railroad crossings in the U.S. Although most crossings are equipped with some kind of signs or other safety equipment, not all railroad crossings have the same equipment. For instance, only about 42,301 of the crossings have gates to warn and block traffic. Another 22,039 use flashing lights to warn motorists and pedestrians of an oncoming train. About 1,196 railroad crossings use bells and regular traffic lights.

Despite warning signals, railroad crossings were the site of fatal car-train crashes 1,896 times in 2009, according to the report. These accidents caused 705 injures and 247 deaths. In addition, 431 people died and 343 were injured while trespassing on railroad property, both on the tracks themselves and on railroad property surrounding train yards and other railroad equipment.

Trains are an important part of our nation’s economy, and they also fascinate people of all ages. However, car-train accidents or faulty or poorly-maintained railroad equipment can result in severe injury and even death. Practicing safe habits at railroad crossings and staying off railroad property can help prevent injury accidents. However, if an accident occurs, an experienced Chicago train accident attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options and fight for the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation with the experienced attorneys at The Bradley Law Firm, call 1-800-360-5072 today.

Train accidents affect far too many travelers each and every year. According to the Federal Railway Administration, accidents involving trains occur at the alarming rate of one incident every two hours in the United States. Unfortunately, many of these accidents stem from negligence of some kind, which means that many of them could ultimately have been prevented.

A particularly dangerous train intersection is located between Avondale Avenue and Northwest Highway, near Nagle Avenue. According to a Chicago Tribune article, safety improvements are scheduled to be made to the dangerous intersection later this month. Additionally, the Illinois Commerce Commission has asked local law enforcement to increase patrol of the intersection, hoping to help prevent even more instances of personal injury resulting from Chicago train accidents. The train crossing in question is notorious for traffic congestion, and planned safety measures hope to help curb the likelihood of accidents occurring at the crossing.

With the installation of new traffic signage, clear pavement markings, and smoother concrete crossing panels, the city hopes to cut down on the number of traffic accidents that occur there. While driver negligence is a primary factor in a vast majority of vehicular accidents, other forms of negligence, such as improper upkeep of roads and highways, can also cause accidents that result in personal injury. In this case, the governing officials responsible for the railroad crossing need to improve safety standards to eliminate negligent upkeep and hopefully cut down on the number of accidents that occur there.

The Bradley Law Firm handles personal injury cases that stem from railroad and train accidents in the state of Illinois. If you’ve been injured, it would be highly beneficial to contact our Chicago train accident attorneys today for more information. Our skilled Illinois personal injury lawyers will examine the circumstances of your accident to determine whether or not negligence played a determining role in your accident, and will hold negligent parties accountable for their involvement. For a free consultation, call 800-360-5072 today.