Missouri Ranks Seventh in Railroad Crossing Accidents
In 2006 and 2007, Missouri ranked seventh in the nation in accidents at railroad-highway crossings, according to the Federal Railroad Administration, or FRA.
Between 2006 and 2007, the most recent years for which the FRA has data, the number of railroad crossing accidents in Missouri decreased by 17, from 60 accidents in 2006 to just 43 accidents in 2007. However, Missouri’s accidents still outnumber nearly every other U.S. state. Only Michigan, Louisiana, Illinois, Alabama, Florida, and Texas had more railroad crossing accidents in 2007 than Missouri faced. Of all these states, Texas was the clear leader, suffering 338 accidents in 2006 and 294 in 2007.
Although Missouri had many accidents in both of these past years, the number of fatal car-train accidents at railroad crossings was quite low compared to other states. Missouri saw seven people lose their lives in 2006 and again in 2007 - a stark difference from leader Texas, which lost 44 people in 2006 and 34 in 2007.
The FRA separates information on accidents that occur at railroad crossings from accidents that affect railroad personnel and accidents that affect trespassers on a railroad grade. Missouri saw 12 trespassers lose their lives on railroad property in 2006, but this number dipped to 7 in 2007. Trespassers are at a greater danger than those at railroad crossings because the train does not signal its approach to a trespasser and the engineer typically does not expect people except at designated crossings.
Railroad accidents can be devastating. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a railroad accident, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Missouri personal injury attorneys at Page Law. For a free and confidential consultation, call use today at 314-322-8515.
