Representing Accident Victims in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area and throughout Missouri and Illinois
Trains provide an essential function in the American economy, transporting people and materials from city to city each day. Furthermore, light rail systems such as the Metrolink in St. Louis allow tens of thousands of people to move around the city each day without adding to traffic and having to pay to park their vehicles.
While trains are certainly an efficient way to move people and things from place to place, they also expose people to a risk of serious injury. In fact, In 2016, there were 9,808 train accidents and incidents in the United States, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.
Trains should be held to the highest safety standards, and our experienced train accident attorneys thoroughly understand the safety regulations are supposed to follow. If you have been injured in an accident involving a train, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries.
Types of Accidents Involving Trains
Because trains are a popular way to travel and often cut through the center of cities, there are multiple types of accidents that involve trains, including:
- Accidents while train is moving, such a derailment or cargo spills
- Injuries sustained while boarding due to hazardous conditions
- Accidents between a train and a car, bicycle or pedestrian
- Accidents caused by faulty signals and gates
Reasons for Train Accidents
Train accidents occur for a variety of reasons. Some of the more common include the following:
- Distracted conductor
- Conductor error
- Mechanical failures
- Negligent maintenance of tracks and facilities
- Objects on tracks
- Faulty train parts
- Improperly stored cargo, which may be hazardous
It may be the case that more than one party is at fault. For example, a train conductor could have been speeding and because of the accident, improperly loaded hazardous material spilled onto passengers or others.
In circumstances like this, there may be more than one party at fault. Typically, you must bring a suit against all parties involved in an accident at the same time. A skilled train accident lawyer will thoroughly investigate your claim in order to identify all of the potential parties that could be held liable.
Filing Suit Against the Government
Many times a train accident may lead to a lawsuit involving a government entity. Suing a governmental entity is considerably more onerous than suing a private party. There are typically notice requirements that must be met or your case will be dismissed. Our experienced attorneys understand the procedural requirements and the substantive law needed to successfully handle your claim.
Contact a St. Louis Train Accident Lawyer Today for a Free Consultation
Our attorneys aggressively pursue all avenues of recovery for train accident victims. This includes compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering and lost income.
The attorneys of Kilo Flynn have worked on train accident cases throughout Missouri and Illinois. Our clients reside in the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin and Crawford, and the Illinois counties of Madison, St. Clair and Monroe. To schedule a free consultation with one of our St. Louis train accident attorneys, call Kilo Flynn today at 314-647-8910