
Train accidents are rare but often serious.
Train Derails Into Building in Pecos, Killing One and Injuring Four
According to a KSAT News report, an 18-wheeler caused a train to derail and crash into a building in Pecos, Texas.
Police say the accident happened at around 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 18th, at the train tracks on the intersection of Oak Street and Dot Stafford Street. A collision with an 18-wheeler on the tracks caused the train to derail, smashing into the city’s Chamber of Commerce building. The crash killed one person inside the building and injured four others, with one seriously injured person requiring transport to Odessa for further treatment. Three of the derailed train cars contained hazardous material, but the only spill was deasil from an engine that was contained. It was not clear why the 18-wheeler was on the tracks. No other injuries were reported.
Did You Know?
Texas has more train tracks than any other state, totaling 10,539 miles of tracks statewide.
Injuries on Trains in Texas
Nearly 1,000 people were killed on railroads in 2023, a 10% increase from 2022.
Injuries and illnesses on trains affect thousands of people every year. While not all are serious, some are catastrophic and may require legal assistance. If you’re injured on or by a train in Texas, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Common Types of Injuries and Illness on Trains
Of the 6,705 non-fatal injuries and illness on trains in 2023:
- 5,728 involved other non-trespassers,
- 3,499 were railroad employees,
- 692 were passengers,
- 663 were tresspassers.
The ratio of fatality to non-fatal injury in 2023 was 1:7. Of the 995 reported fatalities:
- 7 were railroad employees,
- 33 were other non-tresspassers,
- 1 was a passenger,
- 715 were tresspassers.
The most common types of non-fatal injuries in train accidents include:
- Whiplash,
- Neck Fractures,
- Slip-and-Fall Injuries,
- Crushing Injuries,
- TBI,
- Spinal Cord and Back Injuries,
- Internal Organ Damage,
- And Fractures.
Why Do Most Train Accidents Happen?
In 2023, there were 4,845 train accidents. The most common train accidents include:
- Derailment
- Head-on Collisions
- Rear-end Collisions
- Side-impact Collisions
- And Obstructions.
A variety of factors causes these accidents, but most often include:
- Human Error,
- Mechanical Failure,
- Negligent Drivers/Truckers,
- Defective/Damaged Tracks,
- And Improper Maintenence.
Compensation for Train Injuries
Whether as a worker, passenger, or third party, you may be entitled to compensation for injuries sustained in a train accident.
Personal injury claims hinge on proving negligence. In simple terms, this means proving:
- The other party owed you a duty of care,
- The other party breached this duty,
- This breach of duty caused your injury,
- You suffered losses as a result.
Potentially negligent parties in a train accident case can include:
- The train company,
- A negligent employee of the company,
- A careless motorist,
- Or a third party (i.e., local government, state government, or maintenance company).
Any claim against a company is difficult to bring on your own. Companies have legal teams to shield them from liability and comparatively endless resources to back them up. Fortunately, if you were injured in a train accident, you have the right to consult a train injury attorney for free about your case.
Injured in a Train Accident in Texas? Call Shaw!
If you were injured in a train accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be entitled to compensation for things like:
- Ambulance Costs,
- ER Treatment,
- Surgeries,
- Medical Bills,
- Cost of Ongoing Care,
- Trauma/PTSD,
- Pain and Suffering,
- Missed Work,
- Wrongful Death,
- And More.
We’ll help you find out if you have a case for free.
Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 to schedule a free case evaluation with a Carabin Shaw attorney. No fees, no obligations, just the expert legal advice you need. We’ve been a trusted name in San Antonio and across Texas for over 31 years because we put our clients first. We look forward to serving you.