Chicago Area Attorneys for Pedestrians Hit by Trains

Injury Lawyers for Cases Involving Metra, CTA, Freight, and Amtrak Trains in Illinois

Commuter, passenger, and freight trains run throughout the state of Illinois. Due to the high level of activity, train accidents are an unfortunate, common occurrence. The reality of many of these incidents is that a substantial number could have been avoided if it was not for the negligence of one or more parties involved. Pedestrian accidents involving a train are complex and often result in serious injury or fatality. If you or your loved one have been involved in an accident or incident involving a train, contact Newland & Newland, LLP for a free, initial review of your claim.

Train Accident Investigation

Accidents involving Metra, Amtrak, or another rail system require more in-depth investigations and one or more investigative agencies may be involved. In some cases, train accidents can take days, weeks, or months to conclude. However, determining the cause of an accident is an important step in any personal injury action. The investigative process will determine the cause of the incident and, if one or more contributing factors caused an accident, the percentage of fault attributed to each property. This will help determine if you or your loved one is entitled to file a personal injury claim against the company operating the train. A personal injury action may only be filed when the company operating the train is found to be more than 50% at fault. If the victim is 51% or more at fault for the accident, recovery will not be permitted.

Types of Train Accident Claims

In a pedestrian accident involving a train, the type of action will depend on the injuries sustained. A negligence action may be brought by the injured party if the accident was caused by negligent conduct or wrongdoing on the part of the company operating the train, maintaining the train tracks or signals. The damages awarded in these types of cases will often be paid to the injured party, with some limited exceptions.

Unfortunately, wrongful death actions are more common in pedestrian accidents. Wrongful death claims are brought by the deceased individual's estate. Some of the damages in these claims are payable to the estate while other close family members will be entitled to the remaining funds.

Contact an Experienced Arlington Heights Personal Injury Attorney

Pedestrian train accidents can have devastating consequences on you and your loved ones. When these accidents occur, you need an experienced attorney who can fight for your rights and help you get the most compensation available for your claim.

Newland & Newland, LLP is an Arlington Heights, Illinois law firm with several offices located throughout the state. Our law firm has helped thousands of families and we want to assist you or your loved one with filing a claim for the injuries you sustained as a result of a train accident. To schedule a free, initial review of your claim, contact Newland & Newland, LLP at 847-797-8000. We have offices in Arlington Heights, Chicago, Itasca, and Libertyville.