Railroad crossings in Connecticut and elsewhere are frequently the scenes of train versus motor vehicle accidents, and some crossings in particular are notorious for collisions. In addition to drivers taking foolish chances, a crossing may be poorly maintained or have a limited field of vision. This may cause railroad worker injuries as well as risking the lives of drivers and others. While many railroad companies establish specific safety rules for their crossings, one railroad employee is claiming CSX failed to maintain a crossing in another state where an accident caused his injuries.
The employee’s lawsuit alleges that the crossing violated federal and company regulations for safety, causing the driver of a Pepsi truck to get his vehicle stuck on the tracks. Although the driver of the truck got out of his vehicle, called 911 and attempted to flag down the train, the train was not able to stop, and it collided with the truck. The impact of the collision pushed the truck 50 yards down the track.
The beverage distribution company is also named in the lawsuit, which claims that the driver consciously disregarded the safety of others and was grossly negligent. The railroad employee is seeking medical expenses and punitive damages in the area of $1 million. He suffered severe neck and back injuries, as well as shoulder injuries and damage to other parts of his body.
Suffering an injury while working for a railroad is not like being injured in other industries. There is no compensation for work-related injuries unless it can be proved that the railroad’s negligence contributed to the accident. Because of this, evidence must be collected quickly, and without that evidence, the accident victim may have a difficult time claiming what is needed for medical treatment. Securing and protecting evidence is crucial, and the help of a Connecticut attorney with experience in railroad worker injuries may make the difference in the success of a case.
Source: wlox.com, “CSX employee files suit over crash with Pepsi truck“, Renee Johnson, March 23, 2017
