Operation Lifesaver campaign aims to prevent a thousand train accident injuries per year.
While some of the more dramatic train accidents in recent memory such as the deadly Amtrak derailment in Pennsylvania last year were likely caused by simple operator error, up to 95 percent of train accidents are caused by cars, trucks, and pedestrians on the tracks.
In 2015, there were 2,059 train-vehicle collisions in the US, causing 244 deaths and approximately a thousand injuries. The Operation Lifesaver campaign sponsored by the Association of American Railroads seeks to reduce these numbers.
The campaign’s central slogan is “See Tracks? Think Train!” reflecting the need to always look for danger when approaching a rail crossing on foot or in a vehicle. Operation Lifesaver offers the following important safety reminders to help prevent train accidents:
- Never try to beat a train to a crossing—trains are closer and faster than they seem
- Trains can take more than a mile to come to a complete stop
- Drivers should not attempt to cross railroad tracks unless they are certain they can make it to the other side
- Trains are wider than the tracks they run on, so it is not safe to stop or stand within 15 feet of the tracks
- Driving around a lowered gate is illegal—if a gate is malfunctioning, call local law enforcement or the number posted on the gate
- If a car gets stuck on the tracks, everyone should get out and move away from the tracks in the direction the train is coming from in order to prevent injury from flying debris.
Train Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
Considering that the force of a train hitting a car is comparable to the force of a car crushing an empty soda can, it comes as no surprise that train-vehicle collisions have the potential to cause serious injuries and even fatalities.
If you have been injured in any kind of train accident due to the reckless or negligent actions of another party, you deserve compensation. Attorney Vargas can serve as your train accident injury attorney whether you were a train passenger, a vehicle occupant, or a pedestrian. After many decades of experience and countless successful personal injury cases, Attorney Vargas is well positioned to help you prove who caused your injuries and how extensively those injuries have impacted your life so that you can secure full and fair compensation. For a free initial consultation, please call us at 909-982-0707.
