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Understanding Amtrak Accidents: A Quick Guide for Victims and Their Families

Amtrak operates a number of trains that run through the Chicago area, including the daily Hoosier Line from Indianapolis and the Cardinal line from New York. Although train wrecks are not necessarily common accidents, the sheer number of people injured in these accidents and the severity of the injuries make them a serious concern for affected victims and families.

With the recent Hoosier State line accident on October 28, newly injured victims are starting to seek answers about their rights after getting hurt on an Amtrak train. In response, our legal team has put together this quick victim’s guide to Amtrak accidents, and we are also offering a free, one-on-one case review to any individuals or families who have been hurt in a train accident.

Amtrak Accidents Aren’t Common, But the Injuries Are Often Serious

Although the early reports of the most recent Amtrak accident near Reynolds appear to only include minor injuries, many passengers involved in train accidents aren’t as lucky. The injuries in train wrecks are often catastrophic, and passengers may be permanently disabled or killed as a result.

Although the injuries sustained can range in severity, from disabling brain injuries to broken bones and bruises, victims may share the same struggle to get Amtrak to take responsibility for the people who are hurt in a wreck.

Common Causes of Amtrak Train Accidents

Anything that goes wrong while an Amtrak train is carrying passengers can end in a devastating accident. The issues that have caused train wrecks in the past include:

Trucks, buses, cars, or other vehicles on the tracks. The major factors in Amtrak wrecks in the past have included cars stalled on the tracks and large trucks that were unable to stop in time or became hung up on the tracks at the crossing.
Conductor negligence. The aftermath of some Amtrak accidents have included questions about the conductor’s attention, training, sobriety, and other issues of recklessness or negligence.
Safety and security issues. Malfunctioning crossing gates and signal lights have potentially contributed to serious Amtrak accidents, as well as poorly maintained or defective train equipment. Even safety training or maintenance of life-saving devices can be an issue in these wrecks.

While sometimes accidents are simply unpreventable, Amtrak has a responsibility to keep its passengers reasonably safe from harm, as well as the other drivers and passengers who must operate around the many tracks here in the Chicago area. When a preventable accident takes place because the company failed to maintain equipment or a conductor engaged in dangerous behavior, those parties should be held financially responsible for their negligence.

Getting Help If You Have Been Hurt in an Amtrak Accident

Make sure you understand the challenges you face after an Amtrak accident. Mass-transit companies sometimes work behind the scenes to make it difficult for victims to get answers and assert their rights. If you have been hurt in the recent Amtrak wreck on the Hoosier State line near Reynolds, or if you or a family member has sustained injuries in any other kind of mass-transit accident, the experienced personal injury attorneys with Lane Brown, LLC can help you get the answers you need—without cost, risk, or obligation. You can reach our team today by calling our Chicago office directly at 312-332-1400, or you can get assistance right now by using the Live Chat on this page.