Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Personal Injury Law Blogs -> North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog

Personal Injury Law

: North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog

Two People Injured as Train Strikes Tanker Truck in Charlotte, North Carolina

A truck driver and a train worker sustained injuries last Friday morning when a 70-car freight train struck a tanker truck loaded with 6,100 gallons of oil near the Mecklenburg-Cabarrus county line in Charlotte. The North Carolina train-truck accident happened after the truck got stuck at a railroad crossing.

The train engineer sounded the horn and activated the emergency brakes but could not stop soon enough to prevent the accident. The collision caused a fire that affected one of the train?s cars.

Federal Railroad Administration records indicate that this is not the first time that a train-motor vehicle accident like this has happened at this particular crossing, located on Cabarrus Farm Road close to Universal City Boulevard. In 2004, real estate appraiser David Pearsall says that a freight train struck his pickup truck as he drove across the tracks. He says that he could not see the approaching train because tall weeds blocked his view of the track. Although there are several signs marking the tracks, there are no bells, lights, or automated crossing arms to indicate that a train is approaching. The crossing is on private property.

According to federal statistics, there were 68 train crashes at railroad crossings in North Carolina in 2007. 20 people were injured and five people died in these accidents.

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in a train accident, our North Carolina and South Carolina train collision attorneys can help you determine whether you have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit. Train accident cases can be challenging cases to prove, which is why you need to work with a personal injury law firm that has the experience to obtain your recovery for you.

Common Causes of Train Crashes at Railroad Crossings:

? Operator negligence
? Driver inattention
? Motor vehicle/train defects
? Poor warning or crossing signs

Hazmat Spill Follows Tanker-Train Crash, News14Carolina.com, July 12, 2008

Report: Tanker stuck on track as train approached, WCNC.com, July 15, 2008

Accidents At Rail-Highway Crossings, Visual Expert.com

Federal Railroad Administration

Full post as published by North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog on July 16, 2008 (boomark / email).