Railroad Workers Were to Blame for Two Amtrak Crashes in 2012

When railroad workers make mistakes the consequences can be serious and even fatal.

In a new report federal officials say two railroad accidents last year were caused by workers failing to follow basic precautions. As an experienced railroad accident/FELA attorney, I am still seeing too many serious accidents caused by basic mistakes on America’s railroads.

The accidents in Michigan and Illinois were caused by workers not following required safety precautions, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The federal investigators said last week that both the Feb. 28 accident in Madison, Ill., and the Oct. 21 accident near the Michigan city of Niles involved signal maintenance operations.

Both incidents led to crashes involving Amtrak trains. The board issued recommendations to address the “improper use of jumper wires during maintenance and repairs,” WZZM 13 reported.

The Illinois crash claimed the life of a driver after her vehicle collided with an Amtrak train. Officials said the crossing gate arms were up and warning lights were deactivated. Railroad crossings are the scene of many accidents between trains and cars and trucks. If the crossing is malfunctioning or unsafe, a railroad could be liable in a lawsuit. Many of the majotr railroads have a poor safety record and lack the adequate safety systems to prevent worker errors leading to train crashes.

In Michigan 14 people were injured when an Amtrak train derailed. federal investigators said the train was on the wrong track because a switch had been reversed.

The Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Railroad Administration have 90 days to respond to the report.

When railroad workers are injured on the job they often have grounds to make a claim under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

If you have been injured in a train wreck you should consult an experienced Virginia railroad accident attorney.

The Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Hampton railroad injury/FELA law firm, Cooper Hurley, handles railroad worker’s injuries and injuries on rail crossings in Virginia, North Carolina and West Virginia, as well as automobile, truck, and motorcycle injuries and slip and fall cases, wrongful death and medical malpractice. John Cooper and Jim Hurley have over 40 years of combined experience in handling serious injury claims. 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.