Train vs Truck Accident in Green Cove Springs

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on August 22, 2017

One person is reported dead following a train vs truck accident that happened nearby Green Cove Springs, Florida. According to a report filed by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), two people were inside the truck when it was hit by an oncoming Amtrak train that had recently left Orlando and was on its way to New York City. The crash left the passenger, a 38 year old male, dead at the scene and the 41 year old male driver seriously injured.

According to the FHP, the truck had driven into the path of the oncoming train. An investigation as to how they ended up on the tracks is ongoing, as the crossing rails seem to have been working at the time of the accident.

Common Causes of Train Accidents

According to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), in 2013 there were more than 10,000 train accidents reported, causing over 700 fatalities. Due to the size and weight of an oncoming train, serious injury or death is the most often outcome of a train versus vehicle accident. Although we do not know the cause of the accident in the case at hand, most train versus car accidents are the result of:

• Defective railroad crossing signals and gates
• Failure to use horn or lights to warn motorists of oncoming approach
• Distracted conductor
• Obstructed railroad crossing
• Faulty tracks
• Excessive speed
• Mechanical defect
• Inexperienced conductors

Train versus Vehicle Claims

Depending on the cause of the train versus car accident and who is at fault, the injured parties could have a right to seek compensation for their loss. This includes compensation for any damage to their vehicle, along with compensation for medical and hospital bills, future medical treatment, loss of wages, future loss of wages and emotional distress – to name only a few of the damages available. To claim such damages, one must file a Florida personal injury lawsuit. In the case of the passenger who died in our example above, surviving family members could seek compensation through Florida’s wrongful death statute.

To learn more about how to get the compensation you deserve, contact the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. today.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.