Articles Posted in Train Accident

Train accidents pose a significant threat to those in Chicago, even if they may not realize it. When considering train incidents, many may picture two trains colliding or a single train derailing, but in Illinois, these are just two of many types of accidents that occur. Trains can strike cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles, especially at crossings where a train is at street level. Some of the most devastating accidents take place when a train collides with a pedestrian or a bicyclist as these victims almost always sustain injuries. The worst situations may claim the life of one or more people involved.

The truth is that anyone can be involved in a train accident in Chicago, including passengers and the employees on the train but also including others who are in the area. When these victims are injured, they can incur medical and surgical expense as well as being forced to miss time from work. While nothing can remove these injuries once they have occurred, victims may be entitled to compensation for their losses through the use of a civil claim. This type of relief is authorized by state law but the claims must be brought within a specified time period, so if you have been injured, you may want to speak with a personal injury lawyer to learn about your rights and your options for help.

On Tuesday morning, an 11-year-old boy was hit by a train in Blue Island, south of Chicago, and sustained unspecified injuries. The incident occurred shortly after 7:00 a.m. near the Burr Oak Metra train. Officials for the train and local police are looking into the incident but have not revealed why the collision occurred. At this time, they believe the boy was running along a sidewalk on Winchester Avenue which happens to be next to the train tracks, but they have not said what caused the train to strike the boy.

The boy was transported to an area hospital where reports are that he is recovering at this time. Traffic in the area, including train traffic, was delayed for some time as authorities cleared the scene and investigated before service resumed in full later in the morning.
Continue reading

The Federal Railroad Administration reports that there are over 175 train accidents and more than 40 train-related deaths every year in Illinois alone. Those numbers illustrate the truth that few residents consider before they board a train: the large number of trains and the heavy use they receive by commuters and city travelers means that collisions are likely to result, and when they happen, numerous potential victims may be at risk for sustaining an injury or losing their lives in a crash. A large number of the train injuries that take place in Illinois occur in the greater Chicago area, a city once known as the train shipping hub of the country and now known for a large population and numerous train-related options.

Whether a passenger was on board a CTA train, Amtrak train, Metra train, or another train, that passenger may have the legal right to seek financial compensation for any injuries that result if the train was involved in a collision or other form of accident. The facts and circumstances surrounding every crash vary so it is important to understand the legal implications of your train accident if you have been hurt. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Chicago may help you understand your rights, including whether you have a valid claim against a train company, a city or municipality, an at-fault driver, or another person or entity for causing a crash.

Officials have confirmed that an Amtrak train bound for Chicago from Indianapolis was involved in a collision with a semi-truck shortly before 8:00 a.m. this morning. The incident took place approximately 30 miles outside of LaFayette, Indiana and left 10 people injured, but at this time, all injured passenger and crew members are expected to survive.

Authorities were on the scene of the collision and evaluating the victims as well as reviewing the facts of the crash. There has been no word yet on what caused the collision between the train and the semi-truck or whether either operator acted in a negligent manner but the investigation into this crash is ongoing and may take several days, according to some reports.

Amtrak has reported that the train was due to end its journey in Chicago later today and that 56 passengers and crew members were on board at the time of the incident. A news station in Indiana has reported that the conductor at the train’s controls was also involved in an accident last year involving an Amtrak train near Monon, Indiana, though Amtrak has not confirmed that detail.
Continue reading

On your daily trip through Chicago, you might not realize how many trains you see. Train travel and train traffic is so common throughout the city that many residents look past the large number of trains that hit the tracks daily, accepting them as standard as the taxi cabs that take to city streets. Yet if you take the time to notice trains, you will realize that between public “L” trains in the city, Metra commuter trains from the suburbs, Amtrak trains for longer trips, freight trains hauling product, and other trains that may be passing through, it is hard to move around Chicago without the possibility of encountering a train.

You may be one of the millions that take a trip on a train every year in the greater Chicago area or across the state of Illinois. When you do so, you probably assume that everything will be safe and that you should have no worries while on board. Unfortunately, though, numerous train accidents occur in the state annually and many of them take place within the city limits of Chicago. Some of these accidents involve only one train while others may take place when multiple trains collide. Some of the most deadly train-related crashes involve either a passenger vehicle, like a car, or a pedestrian who may be walking in the area of train tracks. While a train is large, heavy, and may be difficult to stop, a person, in comparison, is small and unprotected, making it clear why these accidents can easily turn deadly.

When a pedestrian is injured or killed by a train, that victim or the victim’s surviving family members may be entitled to seek financial compensation for their damages, though no amount of money can ever be considered adequate when a loved one is killed. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in the Chicago area may help you understand your legal rights, including whether you have a valid claim for your damages.

Shortly before 11:30 p.m. last night, a collision between a pedestrian and a freight train in Maywood left a woman in her 60s dead, according to local authorities. The incident happened near First Avenue and Main Street and resulted in the closure of the area while an investigation began.

Officials have not indicated what may have caused the crash or whether anyone involved may have acted negligently but they indicate that they are still reviewing the facts at this time. It does not appear that anyone on board the train was injured in the incident and the victim has not yet been identified.
Continue reading

On average in Illinois, there are over 175 train accidents and 40 related deaths every year, meaning that train-related crashes are of serious concern to those that live in the state or visit it from time to time. Train related collisions can involve multiple trains, a train and a passenger vehicle, or even a train and a pedestrian. In Chicago, many trains and pedestrians transverse the same areas, meaning that the potential for collisions exists and unfortunately occurs far too often.

When a pedestrian is hit by a train, that pedestrian nearly always sustains serious or even fatal injuries, leaving the victim in need of medical care or taking a loved one away from the victim’s family. The laws in Chicago are designed to enable those victims who are injured by negligent or reckless conduct by another with the right to seek a recovery, including the right to recover for medical expenses and pain and suffering. Speaking with a lawyer who handles train accident cases or cases on behalf of injured pedestrians may help you understand whether you have a valid claim, and if so, whether you are entitled to relief for your damages.

Authorities have confirmed a collision between an Orange Line train this morning and a pedestrian near the Ashland Avenue station around 9:00 a.m. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

Though it is still early in the investigation, officials believe that the man may have been on the tracks when the train entered the area though no one is sure why he would have been on the tracks. Authorities for the Chicago Transit Authority as well as local police are looking into the incident and attempting to determine why the crash occurred.

Passengers were removed from the train involved in the crash and later trains were halted for some time. Shuttle buses were available to transport CTA customers to the next working station while crews investigated the scene and until they were able to restore train service in the area.
Continue reading

Millions of riders use the CTA trains to travel around Chicago every year. Some use the train system daily to commute to work while others use it only occasionally or even just as tourists during their stay in the city. Most people who use trains in Chicago do not think about a potential accident while they are on board, instead believing that those responsible for the trains will act in a safe and prudent manner.

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFiN3m64LnQ
 

But Chicago train accidents happen every year and many of them result in injuries to passengers or others involved in the crash. Some accidents are due to the weather and others are due to negligence on the part of motorists. In some cases, the employees responsible for the train itself bear the blame for a collision occurring. When a train accident leaves a victim with injuries or claims the life of someone involved, the victim or the victim’s surviving family members may be entitled to seek relief for their damages. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer can help you understand whether you have a valid claim after an accident and whether you are entitled to relief.

O’Hare Airport regularly ranks as one of the busiest airports in the nation, often serving more individual planes each year than any other in the country. Many people entering and exiting the airport use public transportation including the CTA’s Blue Line train which ends and beings at the airport. Several platforms allow multiple trains to be located at the station at any time and the platforms end at an area with escalators that take patrons to the airport’s terminal, usually without incident.

This morning, a Blue Line train entering the station at O’Hare derailed and jumped a platform, continuing forward and striking an escalator. The train’s first car scaled a portion of the escalator and pulled the subsequent cars with it, causing a massive collision that left at least 30 people on board injured. Emergency crews and local officials responded to the scene and determined that no one had been trapped underneath the train and at this time, they believe that no one except the train’s passengers were injured. Those on board were assessed and transferred to four area hospitals for treatment with all victims expected to survive.
Continue reading

Trains have a heavy presence in Chicago and in the surrounding suburbs because they are regularly used to move both products and people from point to point within the state. Rail transit continues to be a cost-effective means to ship goods from production plants to distribution centers and likely will remain that way for some time in the future. But in addition to goods, which are moved across the country by trains, Chicago also has a large number of passenger trains pass through its boarders every day. Some of these trains travel exclusively within the city’s limits and enable residents and tourists alike to make it around town with ease.

With a large number of trains comes an increase chance of a train accident occurring in Chicago or elsewhere in Illinois. Incidents involving trains can be complex and many variables can factor into the ultimate cause of an accident, making it difficult or even impossible in some cases for a victim to understand who was at fault. If you or your loved one has been involved in a single train incident, a train versus car collision, or even a train versus pedestrian crash, know that you may be entitled to a recovery for your losses. These recoveries can help pay for medical bills, compensate you for time missed from work, or even provide payment for wages unable to be earned while recovering from an injury. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer is a good place to start to learn about your legal rights and whether you may have a claim for your losses.

Police have confirmed that a pedestrian was involved in a train accident yesterday afternoon between Palatine and Inverness at approximately 3:30 p.m. The victim, a man believed to be in his 60s, was in the area of Baldwin Road when a Metra train entered the area. According to local officials, Metra train 713 collided with the man for reasons that are not yet clear. Though emergency crews responded the crash, the pedestrian’s injuries were too severe and he died as a result of the accident.

Metra police and other agencies are conducting an investigation into the incident and attempting to determine why the collision occurred and whether negligence on the part of anyone involved played a role. Yesterday’s incident caused at least the train involved to be delayed as the investigation continued.
Continue reading

The weather forecasts have been grim recently in anticipation of Winter Storm Ion, the system that has been causing havoc across much of the nation recently. With heavy snowfalls, below zero temperatures, and a howling wind, many may not be surprised to experience a rough commute this morning.

The weather is so bad that Chicago Public Schools are closed, as are the University of Chicago and Illinois State University. At least 15,000 customers are without power. And for many, as they head to work or school this morning, things could get worse.

There are widespread reports of numerous weather-related accidents across Chicago with police confirming many abandoned cars lining the streets, some that have been there since the snow began and others whose owners were unable to drive in the snow. The city has reported snow plows becoming stuck in the poor weather and there has already been need of front-end loaders to help remove the snow and dig out some vehicles.

Some major expressways and roadways are now clear of snow but bridges and overpasses have a sheet of ice on them, making a very dangerous transition from pavement with little snow to pavement covered in sheer ice. The ice decreases a car’s ability to grip the road and can cause a total lack of traction which can lead to a spin-out and even a crash.

The Chicago Tribune has also reported that Interstate 94 between Michigan City and the Illinois state line is closed as is Interstate 65 between Gary and Lafayette. In many storms, commuters who choose to take public transportation are better off, but in the case of Winter Storm Ion, things may not be much better.

A crash occurred this morning between a Metra train on the Milwaukee District North Line and a second train in Niles near Touhy Avenue. Emergency crews responded to the collision and 150 passengers were evaluated by paramedics. Of them, 14 appeared to have sustained injuries and three had to be taken to Swedish Covenant Hospital for further treatment. The conditions of the victims are not currently known but all were expected to survive.

In addition to the collision by the Metra train, numerous other Metra trains experienced technical difficulties or delays as did the CTA city trains. Some are making limited stops while others are not running at all. Commuters are being warned to expect significant delays for the remainder of morning rush hour and possibly throughout the rest of the day.
Continue reading

To this day, Chicago remains a major shipping destination for freight to be delivered across the nation and the globe by rail. Train tracks and rail lines crisscross the city, leaving an impression that all goods must reach Chicago by train. In addition to shipping freight, the city itself uses elevated and subterranean trains in its public transportation scheme from the far reaches of the city’s outskirts to the downtown loop. Add in the suburban train traffic handled by Metra and it is no wonder that trains can impact nearly every aspect of city life.

Most of the time, the trains in Chicago move from one location to another without incident. There may be delays or complications but accidents are rare. However, when a train accident does occur, often it is serious or even deadly. When two trains collide, the incident can affect thousands of passengers and leave those on the train at risk of serious injury, yet the most serious accidents often involve only one train. A large, heavy, fast-moving train that collides with a passenger car, or worse, a pedestrian, is almost certain to leave devastation in its path.

It appears that a tragic incident between a train and a woman occurred late Tuesday night in Chicago on the northwest side. Police have reported that a 56-year-old female was in the area of the Galewood Metra stop when a collision occurred between the woman and a train. It is not yet known why the train and the victim were in the same place at the same time or whether any safety procedures failed to warn the woman of the approaching train.

Emergency crews responded to the incident which occurred around 10:30 p.m. yesterday and the woman was transported to Loyola University Medical Center for treatment of her injuries. Doctors were unable to safe her life in the end after what was described as serious leg injuries. The woman was pronounced dead as a result of her injuries.

When negligence is the cause of a train accident, the laws of Illinois and of Chicago provide victims and their families with certain rights, including the right to bring a claim for financial damages against the responsible employee, the responsible rail line, or even the responsible individuals in charge of a station or crossing. The facts of each accident and the cause of each crash determine what claims may be available to victims.
Continue reading

The Chicago Transit Authority is the largest provider of public transportation within Chicago, through its use of street-level buses as well as elevated and underground trains. In fact, on an average weekday, the CTA provides 1.7 million rides to travelers and in 2011 alone, the CTA provided 620.5 million rides to residents, commuters, and visitors of the city.

Of the nearly two million people who use the CTA every day, the majority of them receive safe transit from their point of origin to their destination as intended. But unfortunately for some, incidents arise that leave them hurt, injured, or in the worst cases, even dead.

A fatal train accident involving a CTA red line train occurred on Wednesday around noon at the 63rd Street station on Chicago’s south side. The train was near the station when it struck a 63-year-old woman who was believed to be waiting for the train. Emergency crews responded to the scene but the woman’s injuries were too severe and she died as a result.

Local police are investigating the incident to determine whether the train crew or the victim were at fault for the collision but the final determination is expected to take some time. Red line service in the area was halted for a time but resumed later in the afternoon.

What is clear at this point is that the woman and the train should not have been at the same point at the same time and that a collision between the two should never have occurred. This incident not only cost the woman her life but also took the victim away from her family and friends, leaving many people to feel a loss as a result of the crash.

When an accident is due to the negligence of a train owner, operator, or employee, a victim involved in an incident with the train who becomes injured may be entitled to a financial recovery for his or her damages. In the event that the victim loses his or her life, the victim’s surviving family members may have a right to bring a claim for their losses.
Continue reading

Commuters in cities across the nation use public transportation to get to and from work everyday, mostly without incident. Cities like Chicago are hot spots for rail traffic, both freight and passenger, and many of those who head into the city every day for work use the system of commuter trains to travel safely and efficiently.

New York City has a similar rail system available for commuters but unlike those surrounding Chicago, the New York system had a serious accident on Sunday that left four people dead and more than 60 injured when a train jumped its tracks and derailed.

A Metro-North train left the tracks as it traveled around a sharp corner at approximately 7:20 a.m. as the train headed south towards Grand Central Station. The train derailed where the Hudson River meets the Harlem River with at least four train cars leaving the tracks, one coming to rest very near the river’s bank.

The cause of the incident is under investigation by local and federal authorities but nothing has been confirmed yet. Speed may have been a factor as officials have described the area of the derailment as dangerous by design and that the curve in the tracks presents a hazard to those traveling in excess of the speed limit in the area. This allegation has been supported by the word of surviving passengers, some of whom stated that the train was traveling fast or much faster than normal.

Though this incident is tragic, authorities have also stated that the results to passengers may have been much worse if the derailment occurred on a weekday when ridership is high. Instead, in the early Sunday morning hours, the number of passengers on board was relatively light and may be why there were only four fatalities in this incident.

Commuters who travel by the Metro-North train have been advised to consider alternate routes this morning as traffic is believed to be delayed.
Continue reading