Railroad Accidents

Practice Areas Railroad Accidents

Alvin Railroad Accident Lawyers Fight for Justice and Maximum Compensation for Accident Victims

Data from the Federal Railroad Administration shows that every year, there are an average of over 2,000 accidents at railroad crossings in Texas and other parts of the U.S. More than 200 people are killed, and over 600 people are injured on average each year.

Railroad technology has been in use in our country for more than two centuries, yet railroad crossings remain extremely deadly. Why? Railroads are operated to make a profit, and companies try to keep profits high by reducing the amounts they spend on factors such as track maintenance, operator training, and signal operation.

However, because the railroad industry is regulated separately from other transportation industries and the companies involved are so large and specialized, railroad accident victims often have a difficult time recovering compensation for their medical expenses and other losses even when they suffer catastrophic injuries. Fortunately, an experienced Alvin railroad accident lawyer at DeKeyzer Law knows how to get past the roadblocks to help victims injured in railroad accidents receive the compensation they deserve.

Serious Danger in Texas

The Railroad Administration reports that far more railroad accidents occur in Texas than in any other state. In fact, over the last five years, more than 10% of all railroad accidents in the country have occurred in Texas, and 10% of injuries occurred in our state as well. It’s a danger we can’t afford to ignore.
Most of the incidents reported by the Federal Railroad Administration involve impacts occurring between cars and trucks on the road and trains on trains on tracks. However, a significant number of accidents involve pedestrians or those traveling in other vehicles. The statistics only include collisions that occur at official highway-rail grade crossings, so the actual number of accidents involving railroads could be significantly higher when other collisions are factored in.

Injuries in Railroad Accident Cases

A car or even a heavy commercial truck can easily be crushed by a moving train. Drivers and passengers are likely to suffer catastrophic injuries such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Crush injuries
• Amputations
• Back and neck injuries
• Broken bones
• Spinal cord injuries
• Burns
• Severe abrasions and lacerations

There are few accidents that are as violent as the collision that occurs when a train strikes another vehicle or, worse, a pedestrian. In many cases, accident victims require specialized care for the rest of their lives and have medical expenses far beyond those in car accidents and other personal injury cases. Insurance companies often fail to acknowledge these needs, so it is important to work with a knowledgeable Alvin railroad accident lawyer who can calculate the value of future medical costs and work to ensure that accident victims receive the compensation they need to provide for future care.

Compensation After a Railroad Accident

When you suffer catastrophic injuries in a collision with a train or other railroad equipment, your recovery period is likely to be much longer than in other accident cases, and you may never fully regain many bodily functions. Many accident victims face a lifetime of pain and disfigurement, as well as the loss of all their hopes and dreams.

An experienced railroad accident lawyer in Alvin will advocate for damage awards that provide compensation for the full range of consequences of the accident. This includes both economic and non-economic losses.

Economic losses are the factors that have a direct monetary cost, such as medical expenses from the past as well as those anticipated in the future. Another economic loss would be the amount of money you were unable to earn while your injuries prevented you from working. Your attorney can calculate the losses from the time you are not expected to be able to work in the future, and long-term reductions in your earning capacity. Damage to your vehicle would also be an economic loss, and so would any special medical equipment you need for your injuries.

While your medical expenses and other economic losses will be significant, you may be entitled to much more for your non-economic losses. These are the effects that don’t have a direct monetary value but that have a huge impact on your life. Non-economic losses include:

• Pain
• Suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of favorite activities (or life itself)
• Inconvenience
• Disfigurement

In addition, family members may be entitled to damages for loss of consortium, which includes the loss of marital relations, loss of assistance around the house, and other factors. Your attorney can calculate a value for each of these factors based on legal precedent and the unique factors that affect your situation.

When the party responsible for causing a railroad accident acts in a manner that is truly wrongful, your attorney can ask the court to award extra amounts known as punitive damages.

How an Experienced Alvin Railroad Accident Lawyer Can Help

Railroad companies are big businesses with experienced corporate legal teams, and they have arrangements with insurance companies that enable them to fight accident claims very efficiently. Investigators and representatives from insurance companies often try to talk to accident victims early on before they’ve had a chance to consult an attorney and learn the value of their claim. Insurance companies frequently coax victims into saying something that allows the railroad to avoid liability, or they encourage accident victims to accept a quick settlement that is not sufficient to meet the cost of medical expenses and other needs and provides no compensation for their pain, suffering, and other losses.

When you work with a dedicated Alvin railroad accident lawyer at DeKeyzer Law, attorneys Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer can field questions from the insurance companies, leaving you in peace and preventing insurers from tricking you into saying or doing something that could damage your claim. We can also evaluate the fairness of any settlement offers you receive and collect vital evidence to support your claim.

After a Railroad Accident, Contact Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer to Start Working Toward Your Maximum Recovery

If you suffered catastrophic injuries in a railroad accident or an accident that claimed the life of a loved one, an Alvin railroad accident lawyer can fight for fair compensation through a personal injury or wrongful death claim. Holland and Meagan DeKeyzer know how to fight the tactics of corporate legal teams and insurance companies to get the recovery you deserve. And you pay nothing until we win. Call us at 713-904-4004 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation and case evaluation.