Lack of Railroad Safety Gates Lawyers
Personal Injury Lawyers Serving Tucson, Phoenix, Flagstaff and all Arizona cities and communities
Railroad accidents, though seemingly rare, are actually more common than many people may think. In 2007, over 13,000 railroad accidents occurred in the United States. This is a shockingly large number, especially when compared to the worldwide average of 11 commercial airline accidents that occur each year. Harmful train wrecks may include anything from derailments to collisions with pedestrians or other motor vehicles. In 2007, 851 people died in train-related accidents, and of these fatalities, 338 were at railroad crossings. A lack of safety features, such as warning signs and safety gates, is often part of the cause of these accidents.
If you have lost someone you love to a train accident caused by a lack of safety gates, then you may have the legal right to compensation. The Tucson, Phoenix, and Flagstaff lack of safety gates lawyers of Miller, Pitt, Feldman & McAnally, P.C. have dedicated themselves to helping people like you claim the compensation they deserve. Call our offices today to speak with one of our experienced attorneys about your case.
The Need for Railroad Safety
Trains, though not commonly thought of as quick-moving vehicles, are extremely powerful and will not slow down for anything in their paths of travel. Due to their size and stature, trains cannot stop as quickly as cars or even airplanes. Because of this, if the conductor happens to see a person or vehicle on the tracks, he or she cannot halt the train before impact.
There are many redundant safety measures in place to help prevent people from crossing railroad tracks when it is unsafe to do so. Warning signs, lights, and markings are found at intersections to warn drivers and pedestrians of an upcoming crossing or an approaching train. However, these features do not physically prevent people from entering the track area.
Safety gates, on the other hand, actually place a barrier between the tracks and any intersecting roads. It is extremely important that these mechanisms are installed and are working properly. When negligent companies fail to install safety gates where necessary or install malfunctioning gates, countless lives may be at stake.