Train derailments are serious accidents that regularly make the news. As the name suggests, a train derailment involves a train that comes off its rails. In addition to damaging the train, other people could be struck, and any passengers on the train could suffer serious injuries. Train derailments should be rare, but statistics show they are surprisingly common. The derailment attorneys at Pottroff & Karlin, LLC, explain more in this post.
What the Statistics Say
According to USA Facts, about 2,808 trains derail each year. The highest number was 9,400 derailments in 1978.
Safety innovations lowered the number of derailments to around 2,314 in 1990, which represented a 75% decline from the peak more than a decade earlier. Derailments have continued to fall throughout the 2000s and into the current decade. They were a mere 1,259 in 2022.
Nonetheless, 1,259 derailments are more than 100 a month and three a day. And all it takes is one derailment to completely upend a person’s life.
Why Derailments Continue to Happen
More than 70% of all train accidents. Despite their decline in frequency over the past 30 years, any derailment is dangerous.
Some common causes include:
- Defective tracks. Broken rails and misalignment are common reasons for a train derailment.
- Operator error. The train operator could make a mistake, such as taking a corner too fast.
- Obstructions on the tracks. Any obstruction can upset the train and force it off the tracks.
- Equipment malfunction. Brake malfunctions, defective axles, and other mechanical problems can make a train dangerous and lead to a derailment.
If you were injured in an accident, then identifying the cause of the derailment is critical. Call our office to speak with an experienced lawyer.
How People Are Injured by Derailments
Derailments are major events, and people can be seriously injured in various ways:
- Injured passengers. When a passenger train derails, people on the train can be tossed all over the place, striking hard objects in the train (like seats), as well as other passengers.
- Chemical or toxic release. Trains that carry chemicals can end up releasing them after a derailment. This happened in 2023 with the derailment of a Norfolk Southern freight train in East Palestine, Ohio. Nearby residents can inhale the released chemicals, or runoff can seep into the ground and contaminate drinking water.
- Property damage. The train can damage property, including nearby buildings or cars, which might be destroyed in a fire or explosion.
- Struck bystanders. A derailed train can injure anyone sitting inside a vehicle or even standing near the rail. These are often fatal accidents.
According to USA Facts, about 12,500 people were injured by train derailments between 1975 and 2022, with an additional 467 people dying during this period.
Contact Pottroff & Karlin, LLC
We are the law firm to contact if you were hurt by a train derailment. Our attorneys are leaders in the field of train accidents, and we can investigate any derailment to find out who should be held accountable. Contact our office to discuss your accident and injuries.
