South Carolina Railroad Crossing Accidents
Railroad crossings are notoriously high risk. Pedestrians and drivers rely on warnings and safety precautions such as flashing lights and gates to keep them from getting injured. When these precautions fail, malfunction, or are not effectively implemented, catastrophic injuries can occur. Last year alone nearly 5,500 people were injured at railroad crossings and an additional 529 were killed. Just last year there was a serious accident at a South Carolina railroad crossing where an Amtrak train collided with a car full of people at a railway crossing, totaling their car and trapping them inside with serious injuries. As you can imagine, injuries that stem from colliding with a full-blown train are rarely minor, and if you are lucky enough to survive, you are likely looking at hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills. If you have been injured at a South Carolina railroad crossing, you may be able to bring a personal injury lawsuit to recover for the damages you have suffered and help you get the compensation that you need to get your life back on track.
Suing for a Railroad Crossing Injury
If you have been injured at a South Carolina railroad crossing, you may have standing to bring a personal injury lawsuit if you meet just a few requirements. First, you must have suffered an injury that is supported by financial damages. Financial damages for an injury can include things like medical expenses, the cost of treatment, and lost wages due to missing work because of your injuries. Additionally, the accident cannot have been caused by your own actions. Rather, another party must have been negligent in causing your injury. Railroad companies are common carriers, which means they have the highest duty of care to avoid any harm. Other parties may also have been liable in causing your injury and can also be held accountable. Finally, the liable party’s negligence must have been the cause of the accident or your injury.
Damages for a Railroad Crossing Injury
Personal injury lawsuits are designed to make the victim financially whole. In other words, personal injury lawsuits aim to put you in the position you would have been in financially if the accident had never occurred. This means that you can receive compensation for all expenses caused by the accident, including medical expenses and lost wages. You can also seek compensation for pain and suffering damages caused by the physical and emotional costs of the accident. In some cases, such as where the negligence was particularly egregious or even intentional (such as another vehicle pushing you onto the tracks intentionally), punitive damages may also be available.
Contact the Gus Anastopoulo Law Firm
If you have been injured at a South Carolina railroad crossing, you may be entitled to damages. Contact the Gus Anastopoulo Law Firm to find out how much your claim is worth and get the representation that you need to get the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. Contact Charleston personal injury lawyer Gus Anastopoulo today to schedule a consultation.
Resource:
cnn.com/2021/10/30/us/south-carolina-amtrak-vehicle-crash/index.html
