Traveling by train is gaining popularity, but there are risks, say personal injury attorneys. As airfares rise and airliners cut capacity on planes, traveling by train is gaining interest among travelers, particularly during the summertime vacation season. More and more, cash-strapped travelers are willing to add hours to their travel time for the steep discounts that railway travel often offers over air travel. In fact, the annual number of train passengers rose from 340 million to 600 million over the past 25 years. Unfortunately, the increase in travel rates also means a rise in train related injury rates, say railroad accident attorneys with Jacksonville’s Harrell and Harrell. In 2012, a total of 1,718 train accidents occurred in the U.S. These include 160 collisions and 1,266 derailments and resulted in nine fatalities and 285 injuries. But these figures don’t include incidents that involved trains and vehicles on America’s highways. Of these 1,958 incidents, 929 caused injuries and 233 proved fatal. Common causes of railway accidents involve human error and/or problems with tracks, signals or equipment. No matter the cause, if you or your dependents are injured as a result of a train accident or incident, you are entitled to fair compensation for your losses. Get medical treatment immediately and don’t speak with railroad officials or their attorneys until you speak with an experienced railroad injury lawyer. Jacksonville and Orlando’s Harrell and Harrell can be reached at 800-251-1111 or via our online email form.
