Railroad Accidents

Legal Help if You or a Family Member has Suffered Injuries in a Collision with a Train

Every year some 8,000 people are injured in accidents involving trains in the U.S. Cars and trucks colliding with a train at a railroad crossing is the most common type of railroad accident, which can cause serious injuries and fatalities.

People who haven’t been in a railroad crossing accident often wonder how such an accident could happen, and yet it happens frequently — that very fact holds the key to bringing a successful personal injury or wrongful death claim after a railroad accident. Far more important than looking at what the driver was doing in the 10 seconds prior to the collision is reviewing what the railroad company has done at the lethal railroad crossing in the years leading up to this accident.

At the San Angelo law office of Webb, Stokes & Sparks, we have been handling railroad accident and auto accident cases and fighting for injured Texans since 1956. With our highly-skilled railroad accident attorneys in San Angelo, we are well qualified to handle your personal injury or wrongful death case.

Railroad Negligence and Railroad Crossing Accidents

Bringing a personal injury case against a railroad company is difficult. The railroad has lawyers on staff who are experienced in deflecting claims. The company will usually send experts to the scene immediately to begin investigating and, often, begin cleaning up the site, making it difficult for the injured person’s attorney to prove the case.

You need top-notch legal assistance from an experienced attorney with investigative resources. At Webb, Stokes & Sparks, we have handled cases involving unmarked and unprotected railroad crossings, speeding trains, poorly maintained signage, and malfunctioning or missing lights.

Some questions that can exhibit the negligence of a railroad company include:

• Was the crossing designed poorly?
• Was there an adequate warning device (such as a gate or flashing lights)?
• Was the railroad crossing in good repair and well maintained, or was it hard to identify because of overgrown vegetation?
• Did the engineer fail to blow the whistle or slow down?
• Was there a lack of signage?
• Have there been other accidents at this location?

The most important point we need to examine is whether the railroad failed to protect the public by ensuring adequate safety precautions at a hazardous crossing. With your help and the skilled investigative resources of our firm, we can answer that question and help you get the compensation you deserve after a railroad accident.