When one or more train cars leave the railroad tracks, this is known as a train derailment. In 2006 8,789 Railroad cars annually were carrying Hazmat chemicals. Also in 2006, among those Hazmat chemical cars, 1,035 were damaged and/or derailed and 69 released toxic chemicals. Some of these accidents result in injuries that range from mild to severe, while others are catastrophic and result in fatalities. This hazard is only going to increase as the Yucca Mountain, Nevada nuclear waste facility is scheduled to be fully operational in 2010 leading to a dramatic increase in hazardous radioactive cargo being transported from around the Country to the new hazardous waste facility. As of 2006 there are approximately 100 nuclear waste facilities across the United States with roughly 40,000 tons of spent radioactive nuclear waste awaiting transportation to the new Yucca Mountain waste facility.
Other toxic materials, such as ethanol are routinely transported by rail and cannot be pumped through oil pipelines due to concerns of corrosion. In Painesville Ohio, on October 10, 2006 112 CSX rail cars derailed, including eight carrying ethanol, liquid petroleum, and phtalic anhydride (a chemical used in making plastics). The ethanol cars exploded, and forced the evacuation of 1,300 people as well as causing extensive costly property damage to the land. Each week ethanol trains carrying 2.5 million gallons travel from the Midwest to the West Coast. In contrast, the planes that hit the World Trade Center were carrying approximately 10,000 gallons of fuel each when they hit the buildings.
One of the most devastating types of railroad accidents is a train derailment with a toxic spill of chemicals or fire which can impact communities and the individuals that the communities serve. In addition to injuries and displacement to residents, the council members of those communities should have a duty to its taxpayers and the community to fully and fairly investigate and recover damages and costs from train derailments due to railroad corporate misconduct.
A train derailment can result in serious injury or death to passengers and/or individuals that are nearby. Even worse, if the train derailment results in a spill and release of toxic and hazardous chemicals the consequences can be devastating to residents and property owners leading to significant injury and, in some circumstances, death. This horrible tragedy is exactly what happened in 2002 in the town of Minot, North Dakota when a train derailed releasing 11,500 pounds of chlorine gas (the same gas used in World War I) and killed 9 people and injured 250 others.
Usually, train accidents and toxic train derailments include causes from:
- Collisions with other trains
- Improper switch alignment
- Improper or Inadequate Track Inspections or Track Maintenance
- Railroad crossing collisions with vehicles and trucks at hazardous crossings
- Mechanical failures of train engines
- Mechanical failure of rail cars
- Poor and improper maintenance of tracks
- Overworked and tired train crews
- Improper training of train crews
- Not allowing track employees sufficient track time to repair tracks
- Understaffed track maintenance departments
- Improper training to remove obstructions near railroad crossings such as trees and vegetation on railroad property
- Failing to install adequate signals such as lights and gates
- Excessive speed of trains in inclement weather conditions such as blizzards or fog
- Excessive speed of trains on track not properly maintained
If someone close to you lost their life due to a train derailment accident and you feel it was due to the negligence of another, contact an experienced train derailment attorney today.
Each year, throughout the country, thousands of train accidents and train derailments occur resulting in innocent individuals being injured and killed because of avoidable corporate misconduct.
In 2006 there were over 2,000 train derailments across the United States. Train derailments with toxic spills or releases of toxic chemicals can be just as deadly and lead to permanent and long-lasting damage to communities and property.
If you lost someone close to you in a fatal train accident, were injured from a toxic train derailment, or even experienced property damage from a toxic chemical spill, speak with our train derailment lawyers.
Train accident statistics reported by the Federal Railroad Administration ("FRA") at www.fra.dot.gov include the following:
- In 1994 there were approximately 1,825 train derailments across the United States
- In 2003 there were approximately 2,129 train derailments across the United States
- In 2004 there were approximately 2,430 train derailments across the United States
- In 2005 there were approximately 2,299 train derailments across the United States
- In 2006 there were approximately 2,157 train derailments across the United States
- On average there are approximately 6 train derailments every day in this Country
- In the more recent posted 2007 statistics derailments as of July, 2007 total 1,627 compared to 1,799 for July 2006.
- In 1997 4,217 Railroad cars annually were carrying Hazmat chemicals; 725 were damaged/derailed; and 38 cars released toxic chemicals
- In 2006 8,789 Railroad cars annually were carrying Hazmat chemicals; 1,035 were damaged/derailed; and 69 cars released toxic chemicals
- In 2002 a deadly train derailment in Minot, N.D. occurred and a BNSF train released over 200,000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia which resulted in a toxic cloud drifting over the town in the early morning hours killing one person and injuring over 1,100.
- In 2005 a deadly train derailment in Graniteville, N.C. occurred resulting in the rupture of a tanker car and releasing 11,500 pounds of chlorine and chlorine gas that killed 9 people, injured 250 others, and led to the evacuation of approximately 5,400 people.
Many factors can lead to train derailments and must be fully investigated. Although the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) generally investigates derailments, reports can take up to a year or longer to release. Avoidable factors leading to derailments can include improper training of train crews, overworking train crews, improper switch alignment, improper track maintenance, and improper railroad car maintenance. Railroad corporations, just as any individual, must be held accountable for their wrongs and properly punished when they commit a wrong so that corporations take the morally proper steps to spend the necessary funds for the safety of the communities in which they operate.
Just some of the areas we practice train derailment law in include, but are not limited to: Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Tucson, Cleveland, Akron, Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Lima, Youngstown, Canton, Pittsburgh, Erie, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Buffalo, Jamestown, Rochester, Auburn, Ithaca, Elmira Syracuse, Binghamton, Utica, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Albany, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, White Plains, Yonkers, Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island.
If you or a loved one was injured due to a train derailment or other type of train accident, or if you lost someone close to you in a railroad accident due to the negligence of another, it is important that you immediately speak with an experienced train accident lawyer to get information which can help you. Our experienced train accident lawyers Brian Reddy, Mark R. Baran and Donald J. Kral are here to help and answer your questions at no cost to you. Contact our train derailment lawyers today! |
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