Train Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a railroad accident, your first step after receiving medical attention should be to call a St. Louis train accident attorney from The Cagle Law Firm.

If you were injured in a railroad accident, your first step after receiving medical attention should be to call The Cagle Law Firm to talk to a train accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO. In reality, many train accidents are fatal, and it is the family of the deceased that is grappling with filing a wrongful death claim after a train accident.

We have an extensive background in handling train accident claims, from injuries suffered on board passenger trains to train-vehicle collisions. We are prepared to investigate the situation thoroughly and address the complexities that often arise in railroad accidents. While finding out what happened, why, and who is responsible, we will guide you through the claims and legal processes.

Our St. Louis personal injury lawyers are here to answer your questions, protect your rights, and, most of all, fight to recover the compensation you are entitled to under the law.

To discuss your legal rights and options after being hurt or losing a loved one in a train accident, call The Cagle Law Firm at (314) 276-1681 or use our online form to schedule a free case consultation.

What You Need to Know about Trains in Illinois and Missouri

Numerous trains run throughout Illinois and Missouri. Many of them are only for commercial purposes, carrying cargo across the country, including the Union Pacific Railroad, the BNSF Railway Company, and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. However, there are also many commuter, passenger, and excursion train lines, including:

• Amtrak, including the Illinois Service lines, the Southwest Chief, and the Missouri River Runner
• Metra in the Chicagoland area
• Chicago’s “L” Train
• MetroLink in St. Louis
• Kansas City Streetcar
• Branson Scenic Railway
• Belton, Grandview, Kansas City Railroad
• St. Louis Iron Mountain Railroad

Whether you were injured on a passenger train or in an accident with a freight train, contact a Cagle train accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO, as soon as you are able.

Common Railroad Accidents

At The Cagle Law Firm, we are prepared to represent you in any railroad accident claim, including:

• Derailments
• Switch Failures
• Mechanical Failures
• Train-Vehicle Accidents
• Train-Pedestrian Accidents
• Unprotected Railroad Crossings
• Accidents Aboard Trains
• Defective Parts
• Exposure to Toxic Substances
• Fires

We know that you may not be sure why the accident occurred or what happened. News reports following train accidents can be conflicting and lack accurate information. But, it is always best to contact a railroad injury lawyer. This gives you someone who can thoroughly investigate what happened, including ensuring you get the information you need from the relevant authorities. Once we know more about the accident, we can determine who was at fault and who is liable for compensating you.

Common Railroad Accident Injuries

If you or a loved one were involved in an Illinois or Missouri train accident, you might have experienced:

• Bone fractures – simple or complex
• Crushed limbs
• Traumatic amputations
• Lacerations
• Soft tissue damage
• Nerve damage
• Back and spine injuries, including broken vertebrae and herniated discs
• Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
• Organ damage
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Burns

Train accidents routinely lead to serious, disabling, and disfiguring injuries, making it all the more important to work with an attorney as soon as possible. You may have the right to recover compensation, which will be necessary to move on with your life.

Comparative Fault

Train accident claims can become complicated if the at-fault party alleges that you were partially at fault for the accident and your injuries. These allegations may arise if your vehicle was on the train tracks at the time of the collision or if your loved one was allegedly trespassing on the tracks. If a person or vehicle was on the train tracks, the railroad operator or track owner might try to prove that the driver or individual was negligent, making them fully or partially responsible for the accident.

In Illinois and Missouri, if you are partially at fault for an accident that caused your injuries or your loved one was partly responsible for the accident that caused their death, then your compensation can be diminished or barred entirely. If a court determines that your loved one was more than 50 percent responsible, then you may not recover compensation. If the court finds you or your relative were less than 50 percent at fault, then your recovery will be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned by the court.

Railroad Accident Compensation

If you were injured in an accident caused by the rail line, the owner of the rail track, or a manufacturer, a railroad injury lawyer could help you and your family pursue compensation for:

• Medical Costs
• Lost Wages
• Pain and Suffering
• Emotional Distress
• Physical Limitations
• Disfigurement
• Loss of Future Earning Capacity
• Loss of Consortium and Companionship
• Property Damage
• Punitive Damages (when applicable)

The value of your claim, including both your economic and non-economic damages, will vary depending on a number of factors. Typically, the more severe the accident, or the more serious and visible your injuries, the greater potential for compensation.

However, your total compensation can be impacted by whether the at-fault party’s actions were egregious, which may lead to punitive damages, or whether you are considered partially responsible, which may diminish your recovery.

Fatal Railroad Accidents

Due to their immense size, speed, and limited stopping ability, trains can cause grave injuries. Accidents involving trains are tragically often fatal. Your loved one may have been killed instantly, or they may have suffered injuries that led to their passing days, weeks, or months later.

After losing a loved one in a railroad accident, call a train accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO, to discuss your options. You and your family may be able to pursue an Illinois or Missouri wrongful death claim. Through this type of claim, you may seek compensation for:

• Funeral and Burial Expenses
• Loss of Financial Contributions
• Loss of Care and Support
• Loss of Love and Companionship
• Loss of Inheritance

Railroad Workers Injuries

If you work for a railroad or railway company and were injured on the job, you need to speak with an attorney experienced in claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). This federal law was enacted in 1908 to protect railroad workers, who at the time faced significant hardships and risks in their profession. FELA is similar to a workers’ compensation system; however, unlike Illinois’s or Missouri’s workers’ compensation coverage, FELA requires proof of fault.

If you were injured as a railroad employee, you need to speak with our railroad injury lawyers about a FELA claim against your employer.

Our team will thoroughly investigate the situation to gather evidence on your behalf. To pursue compensation under FELA, we must be able to show that your employer or someone else employed by the same entity was careless or reckless. We must also be able to establish that your employer’s negligence caused the accident that directly led to your injuries.

To discuss FELA claims, do not hesitate to contact us at The Cagle Law Firm.

Let a St. Louis Train Accident Attorney Help You

After suffering serious injuries or losing a cherished loved one in a railroad accident, the best thing you can do is to consult with The Cagle Law Firm. You will need an attorney on your side to determine all of the causes and obtain compensation.

You will also need a skilled attorney if you want to obtain a fair financial recovery. During a train accident claim, you will likely go up against a large, experienced business or its insurer’s team of lawyers, meant to protect itself and its bottom line. You should have a train accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO, to protect you.

Contact us through our online form or call toll-free at (1-800) 685-3302 or locally at (314) 276-1681 to schedule a free case consultation.