Helping the injured since 1950
Railroad Accident Lawyers in Southern Illinois
Railroad Accident Lawyer Southern Illinois. Each day, railroad cars crisscross America carrying passengers, freight, and other important cargo. And while signaling has improved and general rail safety awareness has been heightened, according to the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) someone is hit by a train every two hours. As a major center of rail traffic, it should come as no surprise that Illinois is one of the most dangerous states for railroad accidents: in 2020 it was tied with California for the second-most railway accidents, and had a total of 44 fatalities resulting from railroad accidents, tied with Texas for third in the country.
The experienced Southern Illinois railroad accident attorneys at Hassakis & Hassakis understand how severe railroad accident injuries can be, especially if you were injured through no fault of your own. For seven decades our firm has served Illinois with intelligence, compassion, and a commitment to doing the right thing for our friends and neighbors. Call us today at (618) 244-5335 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer and begin your railroad accident injury case. All our initial consultations are free, and we promise that you will not owe us anything unless we get a positive result for your case.
Common Causes of Railroad Accidents
- Driver error
- Faulty equipment
- Poor weather
- Malfunctioning signals
- Poorly maintained tracks
- Failure to obey safety laws
- No signal at crossings
Railroad Accident Lawyers in Southern Illinois
Injury Law Practice Areas
When you have been injured as a result of an accident, it's often difficult to determine what to do next. With the right personal injury lawyer, you can focus on returning to health while they handle every aspect of your case. The attorneys of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. are accomplished lawyers in all areas of personal injury law and have been trusted by the Southern Illinois community for generations. With your best interests at heart and a track record of successfully helping Illinois families recover from devastating events by obtaining the compensation they deserve, the personal injury lawyers of Hassakis & Hassakis offer the best legal representation available for you and your family after you have been injured in a car accident, workplace accident, dog bite, or any other type of personal injury.
Helping the injured since 1950
Railroad Accident Lawyers in Southern Illinois
Railroad Accident Lawyer Southern Illinois. Each day, railroad cars crisscross America carrying passengers, freight, and other important cargo. And while signaling has improved and general rail safety awareness has been heightened, according to the National Transportation Safety Bureau (NTSB) someone is hit by a train every two hours. As a major center of rail traffic, it should come as no surprise that Illinois is one of the most dangerous states for railroad accidents: in 2020 it was tied with California for the second-most railway accidents, and had a total of 44 fatalities resulting from railroad accidents, tied with Texas for third in the country.
The experienced Southern Illinois railroad accident attorneys at Hassakis & Hassakis understand how severe railroad accident injuries can be, especially if you were injured through no fault of your own. For seven decades our firm has served Illinois with intelligence, compassion, and a commitment to doing the right thing for our friends and neighbors. Call us today at (618) 244-5335 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer and begin your railroad accident injury case. All our initial consultations are free, and we promise that you will not owe us anything unless we get a positive result for your case.
Common Causes of Railroad Accidents
- Driver error
- Faulty equipment
- Poor weather
- Malfunctioning signals
- Poorly maintained tracks
- Failure to obey safety laws
- No signal at crossings
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Medical Malpractice
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Wrongful Death
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Railroad Accident Lawyers in Southern Illinois
Injury Law Practice Areas
When you have been injured as a result of an accident, it's often difficult to determine what to do next. With the right personal injury lawyer, you can focus on returning to health while they handle every aspect of your case. The attorneys of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. are accomplished lawyers in all areas of personal injury law and have been trusted by the Southern Illinois community for generations. With your best interests at heart and a track record of successfully helping Illinois families recover from devastating events by obtaining the compensation they deserve, the personal injury lawyers of Hassakis & Hassakis offer the best legal representation available for you and your family after you have been injured in a car accident, workplace accident, dog bite, or any other type of personal injury.
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Car Accident
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Truck Accident
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Premises Liability
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Workers’ Compensation
View Case TypeRailroad Accidents in Illinois: Know the Dangers
The average train weighs between 3,000 to 18,000 tons or more depending on the number of cars attached, the cargo it's holding, and several other variable factors. Given the sheer size of standard trains, and the average mph of a train in the U.S. (between 66-150 mph), often, railroad accidents are fatal, or, at the very least, lead to catastrophic injuries.
The most common causes listed in railroad accident claims in Illinois include:
- Failure to maintain train tracks and other operator equipment
- Rail worker inexperience
- Derailments or other train malfunctions
- Unprotected rail crossings
- Rail worker or train operator negligence, such as not following safety procedures or operating a train or equipment while fatigued, under the influence, etc.
Staying Safe Near Southern Illinois Railroad Tracks
You do not have to be negligent to be in a collision. You may be in the right, but there is such a thing as being dead right. Someone in a car is 20 times more likely to die in a collision with a train than with another car, regardless of negligence. Be vigilant, especially at railroad warning signs and signals.
Flashing red lights at railroad crossings indicate either that a train is on the tracks or fast approaching a crossing. In Illinois, you must stop at a flashing red light. Even if there is no flashing red light and a train is visible, you must stay stopped until the train has passed. Rail traffic always has the right of way at a crossing.
Flashing lights may also be accompanied by other warning devices such as gates designed to prevent traffic from crossing the tracks. Do not go around these gates, even if you see other drivers doing so, as it is illegal.
If you are behind a bus, be aware that they must stop at all railroad crossings even if they are not carrying passengers. This same law also applies to trucks carrying hazardous materials.
It is also illegal to be on private property used by railways, which obviously includes the tracks but also includes adjacent property and buildings. Walking on or next to railroad tracks is also considered illegal trespassing. Usually, the right of way owned by a railroad is 50 feet on both sides of the centerline of an active railroad track.
Here are some other railroad safety tips to remember when driving through Southern Illinois:
- Expect a train at any time, day or night
- Trains may be closer than they appear and traveling faster than they might seem
- Trains cannot stop quickly or swerve out of your way, unlike cars
- If gates are down and lights are flashing, always stop and wait.
- Look both ways before crossing.
- If your car stalls on a railroad track, stay calm, especially if you were crossing when you were supposed to. Get out of the car, get safely away from the tracks, and call 911.
Down to earth, knowledgeable, handled my legal issue in a timely fashion. 😎
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I was referred to Hassakis & Hassakis by a past client and was assured I would be treated right. From day one all of their staff were extremely prof …
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I would like to say that Shane Carnine has been the best lawyer that I've had the pleasure to deal with. Shane always returned any phone call or ema …
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$2.3 Million Settlement
CASE TYPE: Workers' Compensation
$2.25 Million Workers' Compensation Settlement. We fought hard to get this incredible settlement for our client in his workers' compensation claim. Our client worked as a coal miner and suffered a brain injury and partial blindness as a result of a work accident. Through tough litigation, we were able to get this client a $2.5 million settlement.
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If you or your child are hurt while riding your bicycle, the lawyers of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. can help you recover. A minor was riding their bicycle when they were seriously injured by a worker with a local entity. We fought to get a confidential settlement for our client.
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A 61 year old male sustained traumatic and severe fractures to his pelvis and nose, right rib fractures, fractures to his back and neck requiring surgical intervention. He was discharged from the hospital to a rehab facility for occupational and physical therapy. This case was settled for $46,476.46.
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Case Type: Group Home Injuries
In this confidential settlement case, a minor child was seriously injured in a group home.
read moreHassakis & Hassakis: Serving Southern Illinois For More Than 70 Years
Railroad Workers' Compensation Lawsuits
Railroad workers fall under a unique workers' compensation class, and have been for more than a century. Since construction, travel, and maintenance of a railroad often involves multiple states, railroad workers are not subject to Illinois workers' compensation laws. They are governed instead by the Federal Employers' Liability Act, passed in 1908. FELA claims require workers to demonstrate negligence by an employer, unlike work comp claims in other industries. If it can be proven that a worker was partially at fault, liability, and therefore damages, are proportionally split between worker and company. In addition, if it was deemed that a railroad was violating a federal law or regulation, they are subject to strict liability, which means they are entirely at fault.
As experienced workers' compensation lawyers in Southern Illinois, Hassakis & Hassakis are ready to help you if you are a railroad worker injured on the job. Our team of experienced, knowledgeable attorneys will help build your case while you can focus on getting back to full fitness.
Railroad Accident Lawsuits in Illinois
Illinois' Statute of Limitations for railroad accident claims in Southern Illinois is within two years from the date that an accident occurs, but must include proof of the victim's injuries and evidence of the train operator or employee's fault in causing or contributing to the victim's condition to be considered valid.
Most railroad accident lawsuits in Illinois supported by the above evidence can recover compensation for medical bills, mental and emotional distress, loss of income, personal property damage, and other expenses related to a rail-crossing collision or another train-related accident in Illinois. However, not all railroad injury claims are eligible to recover damages.
Consulting a Railroad Accident Lawyer in Southern Illinois can determine if you are eligible to recover compensation for your harm and losses that stemmed from a railroad accident, offer support during this difficult time, and if necessary, provide access to rehabilitation and other resources during this challenging time.
Trusted Southern Illinois Railroad Accident Lawyers
If you are thinking about filing a railroad accident lawsuit in Illinois after suffering catastrophic head, neck, or other injuries, Hassakis & Hassakis has provided legal advice to victims in Southern Illinois for over seven decades and can be counted on to recover the most damages for your claim.
Our Illinois Railroad Accident Injury Lawyers are committed to making sure that our clients are taken care of after a traumatic accident and will do anything it takes to obtain the highest Illinois railroad injury settlement for damages.
If you are ready to learn more about how our client-focused Illinois Injury Lawyers can produce the best results for your railroad accident injury claim, call (618) 244-5335 or contact Hassakis & Hassakis today.
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