A deadly train accident that occurred last year has resulted in a number of lawsuits and has left the Nevada Department of Transportation considering ways to prevent similar public transportation crashes.
The accident at the center of the litigation occurred when a truck driver with a Nevada-based trucking company skidded along Hwy 95 and hit a train with 218 passengers. As a result, four people were killed, including the train’s conductor, and another 101 were injured.
After the deadly accident, several lawsuits were filed, naming the Nevada Department of Transportation, the trucking company, and the train company for not calibrating the locomotive signal device which should be designed to trigger the train crossing warning gates. The Department of Transportation is being accused of failing to provide adequate warning signs near the train crossing.
Department of Transportation Looks at Options
The Nevada Department of Transportation is currently considering safety measures that will prevent devastating accidents like this one. The changes that the agency is considering include installing active advance warning signs at train crossings which are designed to flash a light to let drivers know that a train is approaching intersections with car traffic.
The Dangers of Train Accidents
According to Operation Lifesaver, every year almost 2,000 people are injured or killed at railroad crossings. The Federal Railroad Administration reports that in 2003 alone, almost 3,000 accidents between motorists and trains occurred that year, resulting in over 300 fatalities.
Have You Been Injured in a Train Accident?
If you are injured in a train, bus or other types of mass transit accident, contact an experienced mass transit personal injury attorney as you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses.
