An investigation is being conducted in Louisiana to determine the cause of a train accident that happened during the late afternoon on Tuesday. Around 5 p.m. a vehicle with six occupants stopped on the train tracks in Iberia Parish, La. The vehicle was struck by a train and the impact claimed the lives of three of the individuals in the vehicle and injured the other three. Two of the injured are currently in critical condition and the other is stable. Authorities reported that the warning lights and crossing arms were functioning properly, and they are attempting to determine why the vehicle had stopped on the tracks. The identities of the victims will be released when their families are notified.
A collision involving a vehicle and a train is catastrophic. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a driver is 20 times more likely to be killed in a collision with a train compared to a collision with any other type of motor vehicle. Train accidents may not happen as frequently as other auto accidents, but their fatality rate is greater. In 2014, train accidents that involved motor vehicles at crossings claimed the lives of 269 individuals, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. The negligence of motorists is often to blame for a train vs. car accident; however, the negligence of train operators, conductors, and train companies can also cause train accidents.
The St. Louis train accident attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth will fully investigate your accident to determine who is liable. Once liability is established, we will fight to hold that party responsible and recover the compensation you deserve for your damages. Contact us to allow our attorneys to provide you with a free consultation if you have been injured or lost a loved one in a train accident.