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Texas Train Wrecks

Data from the Federal Railway Administration shows that over the last decade Texas residents were involved in over 1,800 accidents at highway and railroad track crossings. (http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety/publicsite/Query/tenyr2a.aspx) Over 850 injuries were reported and almost 200 people were killed in these tragic accidents. Railroad crossings are a common road hazard, and a collision between a passenger vehicle and a train rarely ends well for motorists. The last thing that the insurance company or railroad wants you to do after an accident is to hire a lawyer. Guest and Gray Law Firm has three offices, conveniently located in Rockwall, Forney, and Plano. Our skilled attorneys will work to make sure that the people who hurt you are held responsible.

Hazards on the Highway

Some train and car wrecks happen without warning. While the typical railroad crossing has flashing lights and barriers, not all Texas railway crossings have these safety devices. A recent accident at just such a dangerous crossing killed a truck driver outside of Lubbock, TX. On December 9, 2013, Mr. Mario Flores’ cotton truck was struck by a train when he attempted to cross the tracks but was unable to do so because another vehicle was stopped ahead of him. The Shallowater area railroad crossing did not have safety lights or crossing arms to alert drivers that a train was on the way, and there was some speculation that Mr. Flores likely did not even know the train was approaching. When Sgt. Bryan Witt with the Texas Department of Public Safety was interviewed by local news, he stated: “We don't know if he just didn't see the train or he expected the truck to go in front of him, but couldn't go. We always want to remind the public, do not stop on these tracks for any reason, because these trains cannot stop quickly.” (http://www.kcbd.com/story/24175943/truck-driver-dies-in-monday-afternoon-train-collision)

Stop, Look, Listen

The Texas Transportation Code covering unmarked crossings includes an unhelpful rule which requires drivers to stop at least 15 feet from a railroad crossing when a train is within 1,500 feet of the crossing. While the old advice to “stop, look, and listen” is always wise, the most dangerous party in a car vs train accident is the train. Drivers who are injured or killed in collisions with trains may not necessarily be responsible for the accident. Train accident cases can be extremely complicated because railroad companies usually deny responsibility for wrecks, particularly when they happened at railroad crossings.

Contact Guest and Gray Law Firm for Help

If you or a loved one has been affected by a train wreck, you will need an experienced lawyer. The Guest and Gray Law Firm team helps families heal from personal injury and wrongful death cases and we can help you. We will evaluate your case and help you decide what to do. We are the largest and best reviewed law firm in Kaufman County for wrongful death and personal injury claims—we make sure that the people who hurt you are held responsible. The team of personal injury attorneys at Guest and Gray Law Firm has over thirty years of combined experience representing families.

Client Reviews
★★★★★
Guest and Gray law firm is wonderful. I have had the chance to work with three of the lawyers and they all have been wonderful. They will tell you when you need a lawyer and when you don't. They actually try to save you money. They respond very fast to questions and try to help you understand what is going on. They are caring and are really judgment free. If I needed a lawyer again I would use this firm in a second and recommend them. K.K.
★★★★★
I used Guest and Gray to deal with my ex wife's accusations of child neglect.I dealt with Robert Guest and Tracy Gray. Both were excellent attorneys and surpassed every expectation I had in fighting the false accusations. We Won ! M.B.
★★★★★
I used Guest & Gray for a child custody case and they were great. I was really nervous about the case but they took care of everything and answered all my questions. I would recommend their services to anyone. J.R.
★★★★★
I can highly recommend Guest and Gray. I have worked on a number of cases with Robert Guest and and Scott Gray and find it amazing how MOTIVATED they are to do everything they can for their clients, not to mention that there superior knowledge, etc. In criminal cases supportive relatives always want to know "what can I do" to help. Hire Guest and Gray. C.S.