Legal Help After a Train Accident in Nebraska
Trains are a common mode of transportation for people commuting to and from work as well as people taking trips for vacation and/or to visit family and friends. But the last thing you expect when heading to the 9th Street Amtrak station in Omaha is that you will be involved in a train accident. Unfortunately, as with any other mode of transportation, train accidents in Nebraska do occur and can be especially devastating.
Collisions with other trains or objects, obstructions, derailments, and other types of train accidents can occur in rail yards, on the main track and/or at railroad crossings. These accidents may involve passenger trains or freight trains and may be caused by a number of different factors. In the event of a crash, however, occupants of the train and/or those in proximity to the train can suffer serious injury or even death.
While there are many factors that can contribute to a Nebraska train crash, they are often caused by human error or even defective machinery. If you or a loved one has been injured in a train accident caused by negligence, the experienced Omaha train accident attorneys at Cullan & Cullan LLC can help you decide on the best course of action. To tell us about your situation, call us at (402) 882-7080.
Negligence in Train Accidents
There are a variety of freight and passenger railroads in Nebraska, including, but not limited to, Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), BNSF Railway, Amtrak, Fremont & Elkhorn Valley (FEVR), and OL&B Railway, also called The Big Red Line. A train accident may occur on any of these railroads, but it is accidents involving passenger trains that have the most serious results.
Negligence on the part of train conductors, maintenance crew, or other employees are common causes of Nebraska train crashes; however, they may also be caused by defects in the track, defects in the train itself, or even defects in the signals directing track traffic.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Safety Analysis categorizes the main causes of railroad and train accidents into the following groups:
- Human error.
- Equipment malfunctions and/or defects, including defective or broken hand brakes; obstructed brake pipe; broken, missing, or defective springs; defective couplers; bent axle; loose or defective wheels; overheating; door defects; mechanical failure; electrical failure; and body defects.
- Track defects, such as corrosion, transverse fissures, and surface and gauge corner cracks.
- Signal defects, such as malfunctioning railway signals and inoperative railway signals.
- Other miscellaneous causes.
NE Train Crash Statistics
According to FRA, there were 93 train accidents in Nebraska in 2011, not including highway-rail accidents. Four of these involved collisions and 68 involved derailments. As far as the causes of these accidents, the FRA has the following information:
- 24 were the result of human error or other human factors;
- 11 were the result of equipment (cars/locomotives); and
- 31 were the result of track conditions.
In addition to the above, there were 31 highway-rail incidents in Nebraska in 2011.
Nebraska Train Accident Lawyers Providing Train Crash Victims with the Support they Need
The Physicians and Trial Lawyers at Cullan & Cullan LLC understand how devastating a Nebraska train accident can be for the accident victim and his or her family. As Omaha accident attorneys, Dr. Patrick Cullan and his brother and law partner Dr. Joseph Cullan, offer unsurpassed experience and insight into every personal injury situation. We not only understand the nuances of Nebraska law but have first-hand knowledge of how certain injuries impact a victim’s life. With this knowledge, we have the necessary leverage to obtain just compensation on your behalf.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a Nebraska train accident caused by the negligence of another, we can help. Call us today for a free case evaluation at (402) 882-7080.