After a car crash, the starting point is often two drivers and their insurance companies. A train accident can introduce a railroad company, an equipment manufacturer, a government agency, or several of them at once. Add federal railroad regulations and evidence controlled by the parties involved in the case, and figuring out what happened can quickly become even more complicated.
This is why we offer free consultations at Hollis Law Firm for people with questions about train accident claims. If you or a family member was injured, a consultation can help you determine who controlled the train, tracks, equipment, or crossing, and how each may have contributed to the accident. Identifying those parties is an important part of determining where responsibility may fall.
Where Train Accidents Happen and Why They Are Serious
A train accident does not necessarily mean a derailment or a passenger getting hurt on board. Many happen where rail lines intersect with roads and pedestrian areas. Operation Lifesaver, citing Federal Railroad Administration data, reported 2,268 highway-rail crossing collisions in 2024, resulting in 260 deaths and 779 injuries. Train-related injuries can happen in several settings:
- Crossings: roads and paths where vehicles or pedestrians cross the tracks
- Stations: platforms and boarding areas used by passengers
- On board: sudden stops, derailments, or collisions that affect riders
- Along the tracks: areas near rail lines where people may be struck
The 2024 figures above cover highway-rail crossings rather than every type of train accident. An incident at a crossing, station, or aboard a train can involve different people or organizations, which changes what needs to be investigated and where relevant evidence may be found.
Federal Rules Add Another Layer
Railroads operate under federal safety rules. The Federal Railroad Administration also collects accident and operating data from them. Trucking cases involve federal regulations as well, but train cases follow a separate set of rules written for railroads.
Federal rules also require an event recorder on the lead locomotive of a train operated faster than 30 miles per hour. These devices record operating details, such as train speed and brake use, that can help investigators piece together what happened. The standards differ from the traffic rules drivers follow, so the questions in a train case can look quite different.
More Parties May Share Responsibility
Many car crashes involve two drivers and their insurers. A train accident may involve a railroad company, train crew, track or signal contractor, equipment manufacturer, or public agency responsible for the roadway or crossing. At a railroad crossing, for example, responsibility for the tracks, warning signals, train operations, and roadway may fall to different parties.
A public agency can also change how a claim must be handled. Claims against government entities may have special notice requirements and deadlines that do not apply to a claim against a private company. Identifying the parties involved early can help determine which rules and deadlines apply.
Evidence Can Be Hard to Reach
Much of the key evidence in a train case may be held by the railroad. That can include recorder data, signal and crossing records, and maintenance logs. In trucking cases, electronic logging devices can play a similar role by recording what a driver was doing before a crash.
Evidence can change or be lost over time, so an early accident scene investigation can make a difference. Photos, witness names, and medical records are also worth keeping safe. For accidents that must be reported to the Federal Railroad Administration, federal rules require the railroad to preserve recorder data, where possible, for the agency’s review. That rule serves federal investigators, so an injured person may need to ask separately that records be kept.
What These Differences Mean for Your Case
The differences in a train accident case affect what happens after the crash. Important records may need to be requested from the railroad or another organization, several parties may need to be investigated, and different rules or deadlines may apply depending on who was involved. That makes identifying the people and organizations connected to the accident an important early step.
You should also be mindful about what you say to an insurance company before you know who may be responsible. Information about the accident, your injuries, or what you remember happening could become part of the claim. Knowing who is involved and what evidence exists can help you know what you are dealing with before those conversations begin.
Get Answers From Hollis Law Firm About Your Train Accident
After a train accident, one of the first challenges is determining who was responsible for the train, tracks, crossing, or equipment involved. Hollis Law Firm can review those circumstances and help identify the parties and evidence that may matter to your claim. Managing attorney Jason Chambers handles train accident cases, as well as car and truck crashes, brain injuries, and other personal injury matters.
A free consultation gives you a chance to explain what happened, ask questions, and learn what may need to be investigated. If you were injured in a train accident, contact our office to speak with our lawyer.
