Railroad Accidents in Western Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh injury law firm

Rail Crossing Accidents
Passenger Accidents
Injuries to Rail Workers
Claims Against Railroad Companies and Statutes of Limitations
Additional Information

Railroads are vital to the United States, which has over 100,000 miles of rail line within its borders. Each year, millions upon millions of tons of goods are shipped via rail, one of the most high-volume, low-cost and energy-efficient methods of shipping available. With rising gas prices, congested streets, and concern over global warming, each month more and more Americans turn to commuter railways for their transportation needs.

The convenience of railways is not without cost. Each year:

Thousands of railroad workers are injured or killed while at work
Thousands of vehicles or pedestrians are struck by trains at rail crossings
Hundreds of rail passengers are injured or killed while on the train
Many trains carrying hazardous materials derail and spill their loads

Rail Crossing Accidents

Persons injured or killed by a train at a crossing may have a claim for negligence against the railroad and sometimes in the form of a wrongful death action. Often the railroad failed to properly maintain the tracks or to provide adequate warning of approaching trains. In many rural areas, railroads do not install gates or warning lights and fail to cut back vegetation that blocks a driver’s view of approaching trains.

Passenger Accidents

Railroads are obligated to use the highest degree of care and diligence to protect their passengers. Railroads owe this duty to their passengers while they are within the train’s passenger compartments, moving between the train’s cars, and boarding and unloading. Railroads must also protect their passengers from harmful acts by third parties, including attacks by other passengers.

Injuries to Rail Workers

Rail workers are protected by the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), which governs the liability of most railroad employers for work-related injuries suffered or occupational diseases contracted by their workers. Under FELA, employees can recover money benefits when railroad negligence contributed to their injury. The railroad does not have to be the sole cause of the worker’s injury, as long as the railroad contributed to the injury or disease, even slightly, the worker can recover.

Claims Against Railroad Companies and Statutes of Limitations

Litigating against railroad companies can be very complex due to the many laws and regulations that apply to the operation and maintenance of railways. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries because of an accident involving a train, contact Rudberg Law Offices, LLC for a free consultation. Our attorneys have decades of experience representing injured persons in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Specific time periods apply as to when an injured person can file a claim for compensation due to the injuries suffered in a railroad or train accident. For instance, if you are injured as a result of a railroad or train accident and you are not a rail worker, you only have two (2) years to file a lawsuit for your injuries. Rail workers have three (3) years to bring a claim under FELA for their injuries. Therefore, it is very important that legal representation is sought as soon as possible.

Additional Information

For additional information, you may find the following links useful:

U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration – for information on Highway-Railroad Grade Crossing Safety
Railroad Safety Appliance Act

Contact a skilled accident lawyer in Pittsburgh

If you have been injured in any type of accident caused by the careless or wrongful actions of others, call the Pittsburgh accident attorneys of Rudberg Law Offices, LLC for assistance at 412-488-6000, 1-866-306-2667, or complete our quick contact web form.

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Personal Injury Settlements
- $1,630,000 SETTLEMENT FOR BENZENE-RELATED DEATH Our client's husband, age 51, died of leukemia caused by exposure to benzene and benzene-containing products. This exposure occurred in the course of his employment… read more
- $1,100,000 MEDICAL MALPRACTICE SETTLEMENT A $1,100,000 wrongful death settlement was obtained for the estate of a 60-year-old woman who died as the result of medical malpractice. Defendants disputed that there… read more
- $1,000,000 SETTLEMENT FOR MINING ACCIDENT Our client worked in a mine and became paralyzed when a rock from the roof fell on him. We alleged that the Mining Company's conduct… read more
- $635,000 SETTLEMENT FOR YOUNG FATHER IN TRUCK ACCIDENT A $635,000 settlement was obtained for the estate of a 31-year-old man and his surviving wife and two young children. The man… read more
- $190,000 SETTLEMENT FOR NURSING HOME STAFF NEGLIGENCE An employee of a nursing home failed to secure our client's mother while being transported in her wheelchair. She was not properly secured… read more
Personal Injury Settlements

$1,630,000 SETTLEMENT FOR BENZENE-RELATED DEATH Our client's husband, age 51, died of leukemia caused by exposure to benzene and benzene-containing products. This exposure occurred in the course of his employment as a laborer at a chemical plant. Our firm was able to prove that the manufacturers of the benzene failed to warn of the known risk of leukemia caused by exposure to benzene. A wrongful death settlement was reached in the amount of $1,630,000 for the wife and children of the decedent. VIEW ALL
$1,100,000 MEDICAL MALPRACTICE SETTLEMENT A $1,100,000 wrongful death settlement was obtained for the estate of a 60-year-old woman who died as the result of medical malpractice. Defendants disputed that there was negligence, but our firm's medical experts helped to demonstrate that the failure of the doctors to diagnose our client's condition led to serious and unnecessary injuries resulting in her death after years of suffering and disability. VIEW ALL
$1,000,000 SETTLEMENT FOR MINING ACCIDENT Our client worked in a mine and became paralyzed when a rock from the roof fell on him. We alleged that the Mining Company's conduct contributed to an unsafe workplace. With the help of experts, we were able to resolve the case. VIEW ALL
$635,000 SETTLEMENT FOR YOUNG FATHER IN TRUCK ACCIDENT A $635,000 settlement was obtained for the estate of a 31-year-old man and his surviving wife and two young children. The man died as a result of injuries sustained when the pick-up truck he was driving collided into the rear of a drilling truck. Defendants disputed that they were negligent but our investigation revealed that the type of truck Defendants owned was not permitted by law to be on the road during the weather conditions and time of day at the time of the collision. VIEW ALL
$190,000 SETTLEMENT FOR NURSING HOME STAFF NEGLIGENCE An employee of a nursing home failed to secure our client's mother while being transported in her wheelchair. She was not properly secured by staff member and suffered injury. VIEW ALL
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- Pittsburgh Office
  
  Main Office: 2107 Sidney Street
  
  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15203
  Phone: 412-488-6000
  Fax: 412-488-8020
- Zelienople Office
  
  Branch Office: 215 S. Main Street, Suite 1
  
  Zelienople, Pennsylvania 16063
  Phone: 412-488-6000
  Fax: 412-488-8020