There has been an ongoing debate in America regarding the national rail system. According to The Washington Post, the Amtrak is constantly behind schedule and over budget. Though the accident rate has actually declined in recent years, fatal derailments still occur as last month’s crash on the eastern route indicated.
Passing train on a sunny day in austria, motion blur[/caption] If you sustained injuries in an accident that was not your fault, we may be able to help. At Jaroslawicz & Jaros, PLLC, we have been defending the rights of the injured for more than 30 years, and we have recovered more than $1 billion in damages for our clients. If your injuries have resulted in exorbitant medical bills or lost wages, call us today at 212.227.2780 to arrange an initial consultation with a qualified personal-injury attorney in New York City. Even though there are many controls in place to prevent rail accidents, recent events have proven that they still occur and often result in serious injuries and even death. Read on for more information about Amtrak accidents: Accidents Are on a Steady Decline Amtrak has been trying to increase ridership in recent years, but it has been struggling with stagnant funding. Despite the financial turmoil, accidents have actually been on the decline for several years now. According to the Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis, there were more than 11,000 reported accidents on the rail system in 2014. Though that number has hovered between 11,000 and 12,000 for several years, it represents a significant decline since 2000. Amtrak might have to choose between running on time and running safely, but it appears it’s choosing the latter in spite of the most recent derailments making headlines. Some Accident Statistics Are Still Increasing Despite the promising decline of the number of accidents in general, there has been a slight increase in the number of highway-rail incidents. The Federal Railroad Administration has determined that highway-rail incidents increased by 7 percent per 1 million train miles since 2010. That stat refers to collisions at railroad crossings, which are often not the fault of the train operator. There are safety precautions in place to prevent vehicles or pedestrians from approaching the tracks if a train is coming; however, not everyone adheres to the posted signs. These collisions are often fatal, especially when pedestrians are involved. If you were injured in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be eligible for compensation to pay for health-care costs and lost income. At Jaroslawicz & Jaros, PLLC, we always put our clients first, and we will not simply pass off your case to a paralegal. We treat every case as if it was our own, and we are available to take questions at any time. If you want to file a claim against the negligent party who is responsible for your injuries, a personal-injury lawyer in New York City can help. Call us today at 212.227.2780 to arrange an initial consultation.
