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The Six Most Common Causes of Train Accidents in California

It may seem as though train accidents are rare due to the safety of the tracks and various train safety features around said tracks. Unfortunately, train accidents on an almost daily basis. Keep reading to find out six of the most common causes of these accidents. If you have suffered an injury in a train accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation to learn about your options.

  1. Conductor Error
  2. You would think that with the advances in technology that have extended to train operation, they would be nearly foolproof. This is not true for one simple reason: Conductors are human and humans make mistakes. People are prone to get distracted, may not pay enough attention to speed, may not be completing full inspections when needed, or may make a simple error in judgment. Add to these issues the fact that conductors often work long hours with no breaks and you can understand that conductor error is all too common.
  3. Speeding
  4. As is true with car accidents, the faster a train is moving the less control the conductor has over the train. Likewise, if a train is speeding and gets involved in an accident, serious injuries and fatalities will be much more likely than they would be if the train operator had been going a safe speed.
  5. Defective Parts
  6. Trains have a large number of moving parts and each of them must work correctly for the train to function safely. If even one piece of equipment fails – like a rail switch – then a deadly accident can occur.
  7. Obstructions
  8. When foreign objects are left on the tracks, a derailment can occur. This could be something large like a vehicle, or it could be as small as a penny left in the wrong place. While train conductors do their best to look out for obstructions, they cannot look out for all of them.
  9. Reckless Drivers
  10. It is entirely too common for a driver to think they can outrun a train when, in fact, they do not have time to cross the tracks safely. Some drivers play chicken with the trains and actively attempt to outrun them, only to be hit and cause a serious train accident. Other drivers just do not look for trains at all and cause collisions.
  11. Suicide
  12. Unfortunately, some people commit suicide by train. In fact, in 2017 alone, 266 people did so. It is tragic for the family of the person who chose this method and for everyone on the train.

    Get Help from a Personal Injury Attorney

    If you have been injured in a train accident, then your next call should be to Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation. We are happy to discuss the specifics of your case to determine the best way forward.