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Can You Guess the Top 4 Causes of Train Derailments in California?

Due to the size and weight of trains, not to mention the speeds at which they travel, train accidents very often include fatalities. One of the best ways to fight these accidents is to get to the bottom what causes them and then work to prevent those causes. Keep reading to learn the top four causes of train derailments, and if you have been injured in this type of accident, or have lost a loved one, we urge you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.

The Seriousness of Train Derailments

Most people indeed believe they know how dangerous a train accident can be. They understand that trains are heavy, traveling fast, and that their size makes them an issue. However, they do not always understand just how serious they can be.

For example, if a train has toxic cargo, then any accident or derailment can not only hurt those on board but could destroy the environment around the accident. This happened in Louisiana when a train derailed, and the 10,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid it was carrying resulted in the need for thousands of people to vacate their houses.

The Data on Derailments

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, there were nearly 10,000 train derailments in the United States between 2010 and 2016. In 2016 alone, there were approximately 1,200 derailments – 59 of which were in California. Between 2010 and 2016, California was the home of 444 train derailments. Deaths related to train derailments numbered 787 throughout the country in 2016, and 59 were in California.

The Top 4 Causes of Train Derailment

The most common train accident in the U.S. is a train derailment. The most common factors that lead to these accidents are issues with the tracks. This can include broken rails, broken welds, problems with track geometry, buckled tracks, and joint bar defects. These issues case more than half of all train derailments.

The second most common issue is equipment failure, which can include train brake failure, car axel defects, locomotive bearing and/or wheel failure, broken car wheels, and electric defects within the locomotive.

The third-leading cause of train derailments is human factors such as speeding, not obeying signals, unsecured cars left on hills, not communicating with the railroad operator, not setting track switches correctly, and poor physical condition of the conductor.

Have You Been Injured in a Train Accident?

If you have been injured in a train accident, then we urge you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We will carefully consider your case and look for the best way forward. Our goal is to get you the compensation you deserve for the damages you sustained.