Personal Injury Law

Chicago man injured after contacting ?third rail? of Blue Line

Chicago Breaking News Center reported that a 50 year-old Chicago man received personal injuries after coming into contact with the third rail at a Chicago Transit Authority (?CTA?) Blue Line station at Kedzie this afternoon at about 12:45 p.m. The Chicago train injury accident occurred on the northbound side of the tracks. The Chicago man was taken by the Chicago Fire Department paramedics to Cook County Stroger Hospital where he was listed in fair condition.

A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. Third rail systems presents a serious hazard for individuals who may fall into the tracks. The risk should be minimized by using platform screen doors or ensuring that the conductor ?third? rail is on the side of the track away from the platform. Third rail systems must be fully grade separated or must implement some kind of mechanism to effectively stop pedestrians from walking onto the tracks at grade crossings. In 1992, the Supreme Court of Illinois affirmed a $1.5 million personal injury verdict against the Chicago Transit Authority for failing to stop an intoxicated man from walking onto the tracks at a grade crossing and attempting to urinate on the third rail.

As you can see, third rails can be extremely dangerous. Chicago area residents need to be vigilant when using the Chicago Transit Authority rail lines and avoid contact with the ?third rail? to prevent serious personal injuries.

To read more about the Illinois train accident injuries.

Full post as published by Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog on June 12, 2010 (boomark / email).