Tennessee Train Accidents / Crossing Accidents
Train accidents can have devastating consequences for the occupants of motor vehicles; the size, speed and weight of trains make any train collisions extremely serious, often with dire consequences for the occupants of the cars that are struck. The attorneys at the Morristown, Tennessee firm of Terry, Terry & Stapleton have over 40 years of experience in successfully representing individuals who were injured or whose loved ones were killed in train accidents.
There is some good news about Tennessee train accidents. The state experienced 13 fewer train derailments and collisions in 2007, compared with 2006, and a 19 percent decline in accidents overall. But that progress must be tempered by the serious nature of prior collisions, including a grade crossing accident in 2000 that killed three children on a school bus in Conasauga, TN. The dangers from train accidents remain very real.
Train accidents can result from several different scenarios, including collisions with other trains, single train accidents or collisions with passenger vehicles attempting to cross the tracks. Our lawyers are experienced in investigating train accidents, including those caused by:
- Derailments
- Speeding
- Drug or alcohol use, and other human factors
- Mechanical failure
- Poor track conditions
- Dangerous or unprotected railroad crossings
- Damaged or inadequate guards
- Failure to sound horn
Train accidents are governed by very strict time limits on reporting injuries and filing lawsuits – and any legal action involving a train is much more complicated than a typical car accident case because often federal law comes into play. As with any personal injury case, the burden of proof is placed upon the victim, who must demonstrate who was to blame for the injuries suffered. This is particularly important in train accident cases involving train crossings, where the insurance company for the railroad company may try to place the responsibility on the victim.
Victims who are also employees of the railroad face further obstacles; Tennessee Workers' Compensation law includes special provisions for railroad employees, and an experienced attorney familiar with Workers' Compensation law is essential for a successful case.
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injury as the result of a train accident, the Morristown, Tennessee train accident attorneys at Terry, Terry & Stapleton can help. If you need legal assistance with a train accident claim, or to schedule an evaluation of your case, contact us by calling 1-800-518-3779. Since 1960, the attorneys at Terry, Terry & Stapleton have helped our clients recover some of the largest legal settlements or courtroom verdicts in East Tennessee and the Southeast, including Hamblen, Hawkins, Greene, Sevier, Knox, Washington, Sullivan and Cocke counties.
