A Saturday night train derailment in Hiram resulted in injuries to two crew members. The accident involved a Norfolk Southern locomotive that was pulling 88 train cars through downtown Hiram at around 10:30 pm.
The lead locomotive and seven other cars overturned on Main Street between Railroad Street and Beatty Street. The cars blocked traffic and caused downtown roads to be closed down. The two injured crew members were riding in the lead locomotive and were transported to a nearby hospital before being released on Sunday.
Two other locomotives remained upright. The train in question was traveling from Atlanta to Chattanooga at the time of the accident. Investigators are currently working to determine what caused the train’s cars to leave the track and plan to report their findings to the Federal Railroad Administration, which is tasked with regulating safety and inspections of the nation’s railroads.
On a per-mile basis, there is far less risk of becoming injured or killed while riding a train than riding in a passenger car. In spite of this, train derailments are actually rather common.
Most derailments do not result in injuries simply because the majority of trains that derail are carrying cargo rather than people. According to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Office of Safety Analysis, nearly half of all train derailments are a result of track failure.
Human error accounts for nearly 29 percent of all train derailments. Railroad accidents result in around 5,400 injuries and 750 deaths a year.
Understanding the difference between personal injuries vs. workers compensation can be crucial for those injured in such accidents, as it helps determine the appropriate legal action to take.
Additionally, it’s important to note that personal injury cases almost never go to court, which can influence your decision on how to proceed with a claim.
Product liability can also play a role in train accidents. For example, if a defect in the train’s components contributed to the derailment, you might find parallels in six of the most devastating product liability accidents, which highlight the importance of holding manufacturers accountable.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one as a result of a train accident, the experienced accident attorneys at Cambre & Associates LLC can explain the process of seeking compensation for your injuries.
For your free case evaluation, contact us online or by calling 770-502-6116.