Norfolk Railroad Injury Lawyer Report – Norfolk Southern Train Explodes After Ohio Derailment

When trains derail the consequences can be serious for railroad workers and passengers.

The derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in Columbus, Ohio on July 11, 2012 leading to a fierce fire as ethanol on board exploded, was certainly dramatic and terrifying. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, although early reports suggested two people were treated at a local hospital.

As an experienced Norfolk railroad injury attorney, I was alarmed by the incident that could have led to a loss of life. It prompted the evacuation of an area a mile around the crash scene, WAVY.com reported.

Norfolk Southern Corp. said about 11 cars of a southbound train derailed around 2 a.m. close to Interstate 71, southeast of the Ohio State University campus. The train was en route from Chicago to Linwood, N.C. It derailed in an industrial area close to residential neighborhoods.

Three of the burning cars were tankers containing ethanol, said Assistant Chief David Whiting of the Columbus fire division. After witnessing this devastating scene in daylight, authorities decided to let the fire burn out instead of trying to extinguish it.

The cause of this troubling accident is unclear. Had the train been closer to a residential neighborhood and had the three person crew not evacuated it quickly, the consequences could have been considerably more serious.

As a Norfolk-based railroad accident injury attorney I have often questioned the safety record of Norfolk Southern and other operators.

The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) allows workers on railroads to recover damages if they are injured.

The Norfolk and Virginia Beach based personal injury law firm, Cooper Hurley, handles automobile, truck, and motorcycle injuries as well as wrongful death, railroad injury cases and medical malpractice. John Cooper and Jim Hurley have over 40 years of combined experience in handling auto injury accident claims. Attorney John Cooper has been named to Virginia “Super Lawyers” since 2010. Cooper Hurley represents people hurt in accidents in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and throughout VA, and always put the best interests of our clients first. The firm is recognized by other lawyers as “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, a national attorney rating service, for our top level of legal skill and highest ethical standards. If you need help or advice about a serious injury, please call us at (757) 455 -0077 or contact us through this website.