At least four people have been killed in a Harvey train crash involving a sports utility vehicle.
Harvey Train Crash Sets SUV on Fire
The Harvey train crash took place on the early morning of March 9, 2022. At approximately 4:45 a.m., the Harvey Fire Department and the Harvey Police Department were called to the scene of a collision at 155th Street and Halsted Street. A CSX freight train had struck a Dodge Durango that had been on railroad tracks in that area.
The impact of the Harvey train crash caused the SUV to burst into flames, killing all four people inside of it.
An investigation into the cause of the Harvey train crash was underway between the Harvey Police Department, Harvey fire officials, and CSX investigators immediately following the incident. It is unknown whether any victims’ families have retained personal injury attorneys at this time.
The Complex Nature of Train-Vehicle Crashes
The Federal Railroad Administration reports that there have been over 2,000 train-vehicle crashes in the United States each year since 2013. Approximately fifty percent of these collisions inflict serious injuries. Over 230 people are killed in train-vehicle crashes in America on an annual basis.
In the majority of these cases, the motor vehicle’s driver is at fault, though liability in train-vehicle crashes can sometimes be more complex, with multiple parties bearing responsibility. These parties might include:
- Engineers and Operators – Engineers have a duty to operate trains at an appropriate speed for conditions, use lights and signals when traveling at night, and maintain communication with crews, dispatchers, and stations.
- Railroad Companies – Railroad companies have a legal responsibility to educate engineers, operators, and conductors properly, employ enough people to prevent worker fatigue, and inspect trains for defects regularly.
- Track Owners – Owners of train lines have a duty to ensure that tracks are safe to use, including by providing safety features at railroad crossings and by conducting maintenance and landscaping alongside the lines.
- Maintenance Contractors – If equipment malfunctions because it is inadequately maintained, third-party contractors hired to perform maintenance on trains and signals could be liable.
- Manufacturers –Manufacturers of trains need to design and construct them safely because mechanical failures could increase the severity of a train accident.
- Municipal Governments – If a municipal government creates a condition that contributes to a train-vehicle collision, such as by failing to install adequate signage and lighting or functional roadbeds, it could be found legally responsible for the accident.
Given how many parties might be at fault in a train-vehicle crash, victims need to identify all of them within the time allotted by law because failure to do so could forever bar them from obtaining fair compensation.
Helping Victims of Train-Vehicle Crashes
If you have been hurt in a train-vehicle crash and want to increase the chances of a positive outcome for your personal injury case, consider doing what so many other people have done before you and reach out to GWC Injury Lawyers LLC.
With more than $2 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements, GWC is one of the leading Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation law firms in Illinois. No other plaintiff firm in the state is more respected – or more feared – by its adversaries, both inside and outside of the courtroom. Our personal injury attorneys have the experience, the determination, the resources, and the reputation necessary to help get you and your family the justice you deserve.
To schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation with a dedicated personal injury attorney, contact GWC today. You may call our office at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.
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