Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on June 18, 2015
1 Seriously Injured after Passenger Train Strikes Vehicle in Nashville
The Music City Star, a passenger train serving Nashville and Middle Tennessee residents, struck a Chevy Cruze vehicle Thursday morning in Nashville, Tennessee.
A report by wkrn.com stated that the accident occurred near 115 Stewart’s Ferry Pike when the driver of the Chevy Cruze failed to stop at the railroad crossing and drove into the path of the train.
The impact of the collision caused the vehicle is spin around and the driver to suffer serious injuries. He or she was taken to TriStar Skyline Medical Center for treatment but is expected to survive.
Despite the collision, the train was undamaged and none of the 250 passengers on board suffered injuries.
After the collision, the Music City Star continued its route to downtown Nashville to drop off its passengers.
Police closed Stewart’s Ferry Pike for a brief period of time in order to clean up the accident scene and investigate what caused it to occur.
Matt Hardin Law’s team of Nashville personal injury lawyers hopes the woman who was injured in this collision is able to quickly and fully recover from her injuries.
Safety Tips for Driving Near or Across Train Tracks
Although not as commonly used as in the past, trains are still a vital part of the nation’s economy and infrastructure. And although most train tracks and railroad crossings have safety equipment to alert drivers of approaching trains, it’s still important that all drivers learn how to safely cross train tracks.
A few of the most important safety tips to know include:
If you approach an intersection and hear a train whistle or the sounds of an approaching train, always stop and wait for the train to pass—even if there is no barrier preventing you from driving across the tracks. In fact, trains have the right of way even over emergency vehicles and police.
Even if you’re running late, you should never try to outrun a train or “beat” the train’s approach. Saving yourself the delay of a few minutes is never worth the risk you put yourself and your family in when you try to beat a train’s crossing.
If, for any reason, your vehicle becomes stuck on train tracks, always get out of it immediately and call police for assistance. Never stand close to your vehicle, as it could get struck by a train, putting you at risk of being struck by flying debris.
Approaching trains aren’t always obvious, and it’s always best to be safe than sorry when crossing a train track. Be cautious and alert when you approach and use your senses—look both ways to check for an oncoming train and listen for a train whistle or the sound of a train engine. If the coast is clear, drive across the tracks.
Even though collisions with trains are relatively rare, drivers should always exercise extreme caution when approaching and crossing train tracks. All it takes is a brief moment of poor decision making or inattentiveness to cause serious and often fatal injuries for themselves or their passengers.
At Matt Hardin Law, our legal team has handled countless types of car accident claims over the past 20 years, and we know that train accidents often have devastating results for victims and their families.
If you or someone you love was injured in a train accident, get in touch with our Nashville personal injury attorneys today. Just dial (615) 200-1111 or fill out a free online form to find out how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.
