A pair of Chicago car accidents occurred in the pre-dawn darkness Monday morning when two vehicles slammed into a pitch-black train blocking a crossing without lights, gates or other warning signals, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Our Chicago personal injury lawyers have reported on the high risk motorists in Illinois face at the state’s railroad crossings. As we reported earlier this year here on our Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, Chicago train accidents increased last year.Seventy-six crashes with trains were reported during the first nine months of last year, claiming 17 lives and injuring dozens of others. We reported earlier this year on our Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog that Illinois is under federal mandate to improve safety at railroad crossings.
That federal smackdown came after nearly 100 people were killed at 855 railroad crossing accidents in Illinois between 2006 and 2008.
In this case, the black train was stopped across a dark and quiet intersection. Motorists reportedly had no warning when, shortly after 3 a.m., first one car, then a second car approaching from the opposite direction, slammed into the train. The crash occurred in the 9000 block of South Halsted Street. Four people were injured.
The Federal Railroad Administration said the automated gates and warnings were not functioning because of a buildup of road salt. However, nearby residents said the gates have been malfunctioning for weeks.
One victim, who was being treated at Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, for injuries to his head, neck, back, shoulders and knee, said he plowed into the train at 35 mph in his Nissan Maxima. He was trying to pry his passenger door open and climb out when he heard the southbound car smash into the train on the other side.
If you or a family member has been injured in a Chicago car crash, contact Abels & Annes for a free and confidential appointment to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.