Las Vegas Train Accidents Lawyers

Shook & Stone is committed to achieving results for our clients

Though not the most widely used form of transportation, many people use trains to commute to work, to visit family and friends, and to take vacations. Unfortunately, as with other forms of transportation, accidents do occur. Train accidents are not as common as car and train accidents, but are usually more severe because of the large size, sheer momentum, and specific mechanics of the train. Collisions, derailments, obstructions and other train accidents can occur at railroad crossings, in the rail yard, and on the main track and may be caused by a variety of factors.

Common Causes of Train Accidents

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Safety Analysis groups the primary causes of railroad and train accidents into the following categories:

Human factors, including negligent actions on the part of the brakeman, conductor, engineer, and/or any other person working for the railroad company.
Equipment defects and/or malfunctions, including broken or defective hand brakes, other brake defects, obstructed brake pipe, defective couplers, broken, missing or defective springs, bent axle, overheating, loose or defective wheel, door defects, electrical failure, mechanical failure and body defects
Track defects, including surface and gauge corner cracks, corrosion, and transverse fissures.
Signal defects, including inoperative railway signals and malfunctioning railway signals.
Miscellaneous causes.

These are not the only causes of train accidents, however. Negligent or reckless drivers of cars, big rigs, and other vehicles that are distracted, fatigued or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs may collide with a train or obstruct its path. This would not only cause potential serious injury or death to the negligent driver, but may also cause extensive property damage to the train as well as potential serious injury or death to any passengers and/or train personnel. A negligent driver may be held liable for losses and damages in such a case.

FRA Nevada Railroad Accident Statistics

According to the FRA, there were 11,396 total railroad accidents nationwide in 2010, 1,859 of which were train accidents. In Nevada, there were 36 total railroad accidents, including train accidents, highway-rail accidents and other incidents, which resulted in 4 fatalities and 28 nonfatal conditions. The 4 fatal victims were killed in other railroad incidents, other than train or railroad crossing accidents, and were trespassers. Of the total 36 incidents, 6 were Nevada train accidents, 5 of which were derailments and 1 of which was a collision. Track and equipment defects were the causes for 4 of the accidents, while human factors and miscellaneous causes caused the other 2. There were no Nevada train crash fatalities or injuries in 2010.

Amtrak and Other Passenger Trains

When a cargo train is involved in an accident, property damage is often the most pressing concern. This is not the case for passenger trains like Amtrak. If there is an Amtrak train accident in Nevada, every passenger aboard the train is at risk of suffering serious injury or even death. Fortunately, the nine Nevada Amtrak incidents in 2010 did not involve passenger train accidents. In fact, until 2011, there was only one Amtrak train accident in Nevada, in 2005, since the one Amtrak train crash in 1991.

Understanding Your Legal Options

When a Nevada train accident is caused by defective equipment, poorly maintained tracks, negligent train operation, or the negligent actions of another driver or person, injured victims and the families of wrongful death victims have the right to pursue legal action in order to recover compensation for their losses and damages. The experienced Las Vegas train accident attorneys at Shook & Stone know how traumatic a Nevada train crash can be and are committed to helping our clients seek the compensation they deserve so that they may fully recover. Contact one of our lawyers today for a free consultation.