By now, everyone in the Chicago area has heard about the train derailment on July 4, which resulted in two fatalities when a bridge collapsed. But what many do not realize is that Union Pacific railroad employees had identified the danger before the crash. It was a critical failure to follow up on warnings by… Read More
Two Chicagoland Train Accidents in One Week
Serious train accidents are an unfortunate reality in this nation, and the Chicagoland area is no exception. However, it is not often that this area sees two major accidents in one week. That is just what happened in the week leading up to this New Year’s Eve. In the first accident, which occurred the Tuesday… Read More
Secondary Victims of Train Accidents
When most people think of train accidents, and their victims, they think of passengers and employees aboard the train, and pedestrians or motorists struck by moving trains. But there can be many other victims, as well – the ones that most people generally don’t think of. These can include surrounding landowners, residents, and others who… Read More
Another Fatal Amtrak Train Accident
Another fatal Amtrak train crash has affected Chicago residents – but this time, the accident occurred in Michigan. The train in question was a passenger train operated by Amtrak, which had departed Chicago earlier in the evening of the crash, en route to Grand Rapids. There was one fatality, a 19-year-old driver of the car… Read More
Locked Door in Fatal Train Accident
As anyone who has ever worked on board any form of mass transportation knows, there are many seemingly innocuous rules and regulations which must be followed in every part of every trip. While some may be inclined to grumble about these requirements, the experienced train crash attorneys of Passen & Powell understand these rules are… Read More
Driver Error Leads to Deadly Chicagoland Train Crash
Our Chicago train accident attorneys were discouraged to learn of yet another fatal train accident in the Chicago area. This most recent train wreck occurred when a dump truck carrying a load of concrete struck was struck by a Metra passenger train traveling between the Mount Prospect and Cumberland Stations. At the time of the… Read More
Disabled Railroad Crossing Again Leads to Injuries
In another recent Chicago train accident, last month two cars hit a stopped train on the South Side, close to Halsted and 90th. The train, which had been traveling East, was stopped on the tracks at around 3:00 a.m. when two cars collided with it, one from each side. One car became wedged under the… Read More
Illinois Railroad’s New Safety Plan
The consequences of railroad workers, pedestrians or cars being struck by a moving train are usually catastrophic. Now, Union Pacific and Metra claims that a new safety system will significantly advance safety for pedestrians and motorists. Our Chicago train injury lawyers are encouraged that new safety measures will be introduced, but are disappointed that, in… Read More
FELA Recovery for Injured Railroad Workers
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) acts as a failsafe for injured railroad workers. Although FELA is in some respects similar to workers’ compensation – it provides compensation and income for those injured on the job – its origins and operation are actually quite different. Experienced railroad injury attorneys must be familiar with FELA and… Read More
Fatal Illinois Train Crashes on the Rise
As 2011 dawns, our Chicago train accident attorneys are discouraged to learn that train accidents – and fatalities from such accidents – increased in 2010. There were increased fatalities in both major types of train accidents: train-automobile collisions and pedestrian accidents. According to statistics compiled and shared by the Illinois Commerce Commission, in Illinois between… Read More