Amtrak Derailment at BNSF Crossing

During the early afternoon Monday June 27, 2022, an Amtrak train traveling on railroad tracks owned and maintained by BNSF Railway derailed after striking a loaded dump truck at a dangerous and unsignalized railroad crossing near Mendon, Missouri. This tragic collision killed at least four people and injured countless more innocent passengers. According to sources, the train involved in this derailment was traveling over 87 miles per hour at the time of the derailment.

After a tragic derailment such as the Amtrak derailment that occurred near Mendon Missouri, there are a lot of questions those affected by the crossing collision and derailment may have.  In the coming days, weeks, and months one of the main questions will be why did this happen and who is responsible.  The crossing accident lawyers at Pottroff & Karlin are well-experienced attorneys who practice nationally and focus over 90% of their practice on answering these questions for railroad-related accidents.  Pottroff & Karlin has a team of attorneys who have successfully handled Amtrak derailments and been able to provide these critical answers to the innocent passengers injured.  If you have been involved in this derailment, please call us today at (785) 539-4656, send us an email at contact@pottroff.com, or fill out the form below for a free case evaluation.  Contact us and we will discuss your options openly and honestly.

What is perhaps most tragic is that prior to Monday’s tragic derailment, city officials in the Missouri region voiced their concerns about the dangerousness of this crossing.  Sadly, it appears these concerns were left unaddressed.

Amtrak, as a common carrier, has the legal duty to use the highest degree of care and diligence for the protection of its passengers.  Tragically, it is apparent that Amtrak did not meet that obligation in Missouri.  If railroad trains are not properly maintained and operated, tragedies can occur.  Similarly, if railroad tracks and crossings where Amtrak trains operate over are not properly maintained, then derailments can occur.

• Amtrak and all railroads must develop a sufficient system safety program to eliminate these common causes of derailments.  In developing a system safety program it is necessary to build in considerations of human error and malfunctioning – things that occur naturally over time. Frequently, however, railroad companies have been known to ignore these facts in an attempt to save money – a series of minor decisions, perhaps, but the end result can cost lives.

If you or your loved one is involved in this Amtrak derailment it is important that you contact an attorney who knows the technical details of railroad litigation. The lawyers of Pottroff & Karlin have devoted themselves solely to railroad safety, and are eager to help you with your problems.  Our attorneys not only seek all the compensation you are entitled to but after every derailment, we strive to force the railroads to increase safety and ensure that this tragedy does not happen to any other families.