railroad accident attorney in Castle Rock

Even though most people think railroad accidents are rare, collisions between cars and trains happen quite often. Over the years, the safety devices and procedures have become better, but they still aren’t good enough to prevent all accidents. There are still too many people who are seriously injured or even killed in railroad accidents. There are over 128,000 railroad crossings in the United States, and only about one-third of them have warnings. It’s not surprising that there are thousands of railroad collisions with vehicles every year that result in hundreds of injuries and fatalities. 

If you have suffered from a railroad accident injury, you are entitled to be compensated for your injuries. But not just any law firm or any lawyer can handle a case like this. Railroad accidents throughout Colorado can be some of the most complicated personal injury cases out there. 

The railroad companies and their insurance companies will have a small army of adjusters, investigators, and lawyers, all fighting to not have to pay you anything for your injuries. You deserve to have an aggressive legal team with the knowledge, skills, and, most importantly, the resources to take on these huge corporations. The Castle Rock railroad accident attorneys at Gerash Steiner Blanton, P.C., focus their practice on helping seriously injured victims in complex personal injury litigation cases. Contact us today.

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Types of Train Accidents in Colorado

There are dozens of ways where train accidents can seriously injure someone. Train accidents and derailments occur all of the time, with most of these incidents not affecting anyone. But anytime a person comes into contact or interacts with the railroad system, there is potential for railroad accidents. Here are just some of the more common examples of railroad accidents that we see in our Colorado train accident practice:

  • A pedestrian tripping and falling on the tracks or a train platform at a station;
  • Train derailments, particularly in more populated areas where the derailed train can skip the tracks and crash into residential areas or vehicles on adjacent roadways;
  • Collisions and impacts between trains and vehicles, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists at a railroad crossing;
  • Similar to derailments, when trains collide, it can cause significant damage and, depending on where the collision occurred, people in the area of the collision could be injured; and
  • Pedestrians walking on, next to, or around railroad tracks being struck by a passing train.

If you have been seriously injured in any of these types of incidents, then you may have a viable personal injury lawsuit against the railroad company. But the only way to secure full and fair compensation for your injuries is to immediately contact an experienced railroad accident law firm to investigate the incident and help you with your case. 

Common Causes of Train Accidents

Most train accidents that involve injuries are caused by someone’s negligence, whether it be the railroad company, the manufacturer of the trains themselves, or the negligent actions of railroad employees. The following are common causes that we see in our Colorado railroad accident law practice, although this list isn’t exhaustive, and there are other causes out there:

  • Mistakes made by train engineers and other employees of the railroad company;
  • Mechanical malfunctions of switch or signal devices due to operator error;
  • Dangerously designed or manufactured equipment that is defective and causes a train accident;
  • Poorly designed and implemented track switching plans;
  • Poorly maintained train stations and tracks that cause derailments and accidents; and
  • Failing to properly search for objects on the tracks.

All of these causes relate back to either employees’ engagement in negligent conduct or the railroad company engaging in negligent actions—either negligently doing something or failing to do something that they have a duty to perform to protect people.

Steps to Take After a Being Seriously Injured in a Train Accident

If you are injured in a train accident, whether you’re a pedestrian or driving in a car, the most important thing is not to wait to contact a skilled railroad accident lawyer. The average settlement of a railroad accident injury claim truly depends upon how skilled your lawyer is and how soon they can begin investigating the case and securing evidence of the railroad’s negligence. Here are the steps that you should take as soon as possible after being injured in a railroad accident:

  • Report the injury: Make sure someone in charge at the railroad company or train station knows that an injury occurred. This is especially important if it was a slip, trip, or fall at a train station. Unless you report it, the people in charge may never know of it.
  • Medical treatment: This may seem obvious, but seek medical treatment with a doctor as soon as possible. Don’t wait to go to the doctor to see if your symptoms will go away on their own. The sooner you treat with a doctor, the better, not only because you will get on a treatment plan but also because the doctor’s medical notes and diagnosis will help any railroad accident lawsuit you may file in the future.
  • Contact an experienced railroad accident attorney as soon as possible:  Again, the sooner a good attorney is on the case, the sooner an investigation can begin, and the sooner evidence can be collected and secured and not lost. For example, a skilled lawyer will immediately track down witnesses to the accident and get a recorded statement from them so that years later, if the case goes to trial, they won’t forget what they saw and heard.
  • Recorded interview: DO NOT give any recorded interview or statement to anyone from any insurance company without having your attorney by your side. These statements can be used against you later on at trial.

Contact a Castle Rock Railroad Accident Attorneys Today

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a railroad accident, your best decision is to contact a Castle Rock railroad accident attorney to help you. You do not have to go through this horrible experience alone. We are there to answer your questions and fight for your rights to full and fair compensation for your injuries. Contact us today to discuss your case!

Our experienced legal team handles other types of cases as well, including:

  • Personal Injury
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Criminal Defense
  • DUI Defense
  • Estate Planning and Probate
  • Fiduciary & Estate Litigation
  • Employment Law
  • Civil Rights
  • Appellate Work