Preventing Train-Car Accidents | Carolina Train And Railroad Accident Attorneys

North Carolina (NC) Railroad Accident/FELA Lawyers
Attorneys Licensed in NC and South Carolina (SC) with Office in Elizabeth City, NC

This week we reported on a deadly South Carolina train-car accident that killed four people in Hardeeville after the driver of the car ignored a railroad crossing arm and attempted to beat a train. This is one of the many SC railroad crossing accidents that could have been easily been prevented if only the driver were familiar with basic railroad crossing safety information.

Here are just a few railroad crossing safety tips that could prevent your family from being involved in a dangerous train-car accident in South Carolina:

• First and foremost, always look for trains and never assume that tracks are unused. If there are rails, there could very well be trains. In many train accidents, drivers or pedestrians have assumed that the tracks were not in use and had not been actively looking for trains.
• If on foot, know that walking on train tracks is very dangerous and considered trespassing – it s potentially deadly and illegal. Be especially wary of using railroad tunnels and bridges.
• Never try to dodge railroad safety arms or to ignore warning lights and try to beat a train across the tracks. Think to yourself, what is worse: being a few minutes late or being seriously injured or killed in a train accident? It is simply not worth the risk.
• Never stop on a crossing, even if you do not see a train coming. If there is a light or stop sign ahead, you are in danger of being boxed in by other cars and trapped on the tracks.
• Look both ways before crossing a track, and be wary of crossing with multiple sets of tracks.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a law firm whose attorneys focus on injury and accident law and who have handled hundreds of railroad worker injury and general railroad injury cases. Please take a few moments to review our railroad injury case results involving FELA and other rail employee protection laws.

We serve every area of North Carolina, including the Outer Banks, Nags Head and the western mountains, as well as all the cities and counties in between. In South Carolina, we cover the state from Myrtle Beach and Charleston to Orangeburg, Columbia, Florence, Rock Hill, Darlington, Aiken, Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008 and we have been named one of the best Best Injury Law Firms in North Carolina for personal injury law since 2010 by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, Rick and Jim have been listed in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and our firm has the highest rating of AV from national lawyer ranking organization Martindale-Hubbell. That means we have a reputation for demonstrating preeminent legal skill.

We would like to send you one of our free reports about railroad injury and FELA cases, including the Dos and Don'ts When Injured at a Railroad: A Railroad Worker's FELA Rights and What Railroad Claim Agents Agents Won't Tell You (But You Must Know).

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer a free, initial confidential injury case consultation, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call promptly.