Kansas City Train Accident Attorney

The Kansas City Southern Railway Company, Kansas City Terminal Railway, and RideKC Streetcar operate hundreds of trains throughout the region every day. Passenger and cargo trains are vital to the state and national economies. Riding the train or streetcar can be an excellent way to commute without dealing with traffic or gas prices – yet sometimes it comes at a more personal price. When trains get into accidents, it can cost passengers and other parties their lives. Wendt Law Firm P.C. has represented victims of train accidents in Kansas and Missouri.

Why Choose Wendt Law Firm P.C.?

• We have an award-winning lead Kansas City train accident attorney who received the honor of Missouri and Kansas Super Lawyer.
• Our injury attorneys offer free initial consultations so you can learn your legal opportunities at no risk or legal obligation.
• We offer our legal services on Kansas City train accident cases on a contingency fee basis, with no fees charged until we succeed in securing compensation.

Do You Need a Kansas City Injury Lawyer for a Train Accident Case?

Train accidents can be severe. Collisions between trains, for example, can cause catastrophic personal injuries. Whether your injuries are minor or major, the insurance company receiving your claim may try to convince you to accept less than you need. An insurance company has no interest in making you whole again. Instead, it wants to save money. Hiring a Kansas City train accident attorney to represent your interests during insurance negotiations can have a positive result. Your lawyer can argue for maximum compensation for your injuries and losses while you focus on more important things, such as healing.

Why Do Train Accidents Happen in KC?

Identifying the cause of your train accident is one of the first steps toward obtaining compensation. You or your personal injury lawyer will need to figure out who or what caused your injuries, as that entity will be financially responsible for your damages. Train accidents in Kansas City can occur for many different reasons.

• Poor train maintenance
• Dangerous premises
• Lack of security at train stations
• Train malfunctions
• Structural defects
• Railroad or roadbed defects
• Part defects and breakdowns
• Electrical failures
• Problems with warning lights
• Negligent conductors
• Operator error

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, in 2019, 4 people died and 57 suffered injuries in train accidents in the US. There were 1,848 total train accidents in 2019. Of these accidents, 1,283 were derailments, 115 were collisions and 450 were classified as “Other”. Most train accidents are preventable. If you believe someone else’s negligence or carelessness led to your train accident, talk to our train accident lawyers about a possible lawsuit.

Who is Responsible for a Train Accident?

Trains are common carriers, or vehicles that carry goods or passengers for money. As common carriers, trains must follow specific federal laws in regard to safety and operations. These laws outline how train companies must hire and train employees, upkeep their cars, and operate the trains. When a company breaks any of these laws, it can lead to an unsafe condition that ultimately causes an accident. Parties potentially liable for these injuries include:

• Railroad company. KC’s railroad companies do not have to guarantee passenger safety, but they must use the highest degree of care and vigilance to reasonably prevent harm. Inspection violations, lack of maintenance, and poorly trained conductors who cause accidents can all come down to railway negligence. The company is typically liable for the actions of its employees due to vicarious liability laws.
• Product manufacturer. Trains rely on a variety of products and equipment for safe transport. Everything from the brake system to the railroad crossing arm and alarm are vital to the safety of all involved. A defective product can malfunction at an inopportune time, resulting in a preventable accident. In these cases, victims may have claims against the product’s manufacturer or distributor.
• A third party. Some train accidents occur because another motorist on the roadway unsafely crosses the tracks, leading to a collision. If another driver stops or stalls on the railroad tracks, he or she may be responsible for a subsequent accident. Third parties may also include Kansas City for an unsafe railroad crossing or defective traffic light. Suing a government entity involves different laws and rules than typical cases.

Common train accidents involve trains derailing, colliding with other trains, or striking passengers at unprotected railroad crossings. Passengers, employees, other drivers, and bystanders can all suffer serious injuries in a train accident. Understanding who may be at fault for your KC train accident may require an investigation with the help of an injury attorney in Kansas City.

Call the police from the scene of a serious train accident. Write down the police report number. Take photographs of the crash site or dangerous element that injured you. Obtain the names of eyewitnesses. Write down other details, such as the train number, location, date, time and what happened. Go to a hospital in Kansas City without delay. Keep copies of all relevant medical records. After you file your initial insurance claim, keep any correspondence you receive from the insurer. Then, contact a lawyer from Wendt Law Firm P.C. to go over the information related to your case. Our attorneys can investigate further to help you understand your rights.

Compensation Available

Hiring a lawyer to go up against one or more defendants after a train accident is the best way to stand up for your rights and seek justice. Taking your claim to an insurance company or the civil courts in Kansas City could hold the negligent party accountable for the incident. It could also result in the financial recovery you need to move forward. A defendant in KC may owe you compensation for many economic and non-economic losses.

• Past and future medical bills
• Past and future pain and suffering
• Lost wages/disability costs
• Emotional distress
• Property damages
• Legal expenses
• Out-of-pocket costs
• Punitive damages
• Wrongful death damages

Personal injuries from a train accident can be severe and wide-ranging. They can include bone breaks, dislocations, lacerations, pulled muscles, internal injuries, burns, traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. A serious injury could impact many aspects of your life. You may have thousands of dollars in medical bills and rehabilitation costs, as well as lost wages and disability-related losses. At Wendt Law Firm P.C., we are passionate about helping injured train accident victims recover fair compensation for their losses. Find out if you have a case today.

Trust Kansas City Accident Attorney for Train Accident Investigations

Looking at the train’s black box can help determine negligence. The black box is a device that records the train’s activities, such as the vehicle’s speed, braking, direction, and whether the conductor used the horn. Examining the black box can lead to the discovery that the conductor failed to use the appropriate standards of care, resulting in a crash. Interviewing eyewitnesses and looking into the train company’s operations can also come up with evidence regarding the accident. As an injured passenger or railroad worker, come to our KC law firm for help with the discovery and litigation processes. Schedule a consultation today.