Chicago Train Accident Attorneys

Train Accident Lawyers Handling Commuter Accidents, Derailments and More

The railroad industry has a rich history in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Even today, the state serves as one of the major railroad hubs for the entire nation.

In the Chicago area, when someone sustains a serious injury in a railroad accident, they turn to Oak Park railroad accident lawyers Coplan & Crane. In case after case, we have a well-earned reputation for being an experienced law firm in handling complex, serious railroad accidents. These cases are complicated because they often involve large railroad companies and the teams of lawyers working for them. We have a strong success rate with such cases. Often, we have been able to obtain large settlements or verdicts that cover the true cost of such accidents.

There are many different types of railroad accident cases. Some of the most common ones we deal with include:

train accident lawyer

What are common causes of train accidents in Chicago?

What causes train accidents? The list is long, especially in Chicago and Illinois, home to one of the nation’s largest railroad networks.

Some of the most common causes of train accidents include:

  • Poor maintenance (from the tracks to the trains themselves)
  • Train operator error (from falling asleep at the controls, to working under the influence)
  • Faulty train crossing signals
  • Icy conditions on train platforms (slip and fall accidents are common in winter)
  • Unruly passengers
  • Poorly lighted train stations (negligent security puts people in danger)

Whatever type of train accident you’re dealing with, Coplan & Crane can help.  Located in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park and serving people throughout Illinois, Coplan & Crane’s experienced train accident lawyers have handled a wide range of cases, from commuter train accidents to FELA claims. We are experienced in handling train accident cases, and we have the track record to prove it. We have obtained many large, multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts for personal injury victims throughout Illinois. Our case results speak for themselves.

So many different factors need to be considered when dealing with a railroad accident.  Sometimes accidents involving trains occur due to the negligence of the driver of the motor vehicle or pedestrian.  However, sometimes the train engineer, the railroad, or another party may be liable.  Railroad crossings are sometimes substandard or in disrepair.

Sometimes, crossings are not secured by crossing gates or warning lights signaling a train is approaching. It’s not always easy to simply look for an approaching train at an unsecured crossing. For example, a driver may be unable to see an approaching train because the moving train may be obscured by a stopped train on another track, or by vegetation that has grown up, interfering with a car driver’s ability to see down the tracks.

FELA Claims

In 1908, the U.S. Congress created laws to protect railroad workers disabled or hurt on the job. These laws are officially known as the Federal Employers’ Liability Act. To many, they are simply known by their acronym: FELA.

FELA claims for injured railroad workers in Chicago and throughout Illinois can be extremely complicated. That’s why you need an experienced, knowledgeable Chicago FELA lawyer on your side who thoroughly understands such laws. You need an attorney who’s not intimidated by large railroad companies and has a solid track record for obtaining large verdicts and settlements for clients. You need Coplan & Crane.

Chicago Illinois Area Railroad FELA and Workers Compensation Lawyer

They are good cases, but the thing you’ve got to remember here is you’re dealing with the railroad. And in my experience there is not a more difficult defendant to deal with, because they have as much money as they could ever spend and they’ll spend it to beat you down. If you look across the country there are more sanction orders against railroads than any other defendant.

Full Presentation: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Coplan & Crane is one of the area’s leading FELA claims law firms. We focus on such cases because we believe strongly in helping workers seriously injured in railroad accidents. Illinois is famous for its railroads. Railroad work can be extremely dangerous. We promise to work hard for you because you work so hard for us.

FELA claims are different than most workers compensation claims. The difference is what’s covered by FELA. Such laws enable railroad workers hurt on the job to recover damages they might normally obtain with a lawsuit. This includes lost wages and benefits, medical expenses and pain and suffering.

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Whistleblower Claims

When railroad workers see unsafe conditions on the job in Illinois, it’s vital they say something. People’s lives are on the line if something goes wrong. Unfortunately, the person who files such a claim can sometimes experience resistance from supervisors and other employees who want to keep such problems quiet.

Fear of retribution for making a whistleblower claim is a legitimate concern. That’s why it’s important you have a hard-working, results-driven Chicago whistleblower claims lawyer on your side, fighting for your rights. At Coplan & Crane, we take every case seriously and work tirelessly for every client. Based in Oak Park and serving people throughout Illinois, Coplan & Crane has a strong track record for building solid cases for railroad workers statewide.

No matter what type of whistleblower claim you’re dealing with, we can help. Whether your claim involves a commuter train accident or a derailment accident, Coplan & Crane has the resources, knowledge and experience you would expect from a large, corporate law firm. The difference is Coplan & Crane brings a personal, hands-on approach to every case the firm handles.

Whistleblower claims often involve railroad workers who were fired or demoted because they had the courage to speak up against something they saw was wrong that put people at risk or resulted in a railroad accident. These workers deserve to be hailed for standing up and taking action when they saw something wrong. That’s why we work so hard for them. You put your job on the line for us. Now it’s our turn to step up to the plate for you.

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Commuter Train Accidents

Thousands of people ride and work on commuter trains every day in Chicago and throughout Illinois. Most of the time, these trains operate flawlessly without any problems. Unfortunately, railroad accidents happen, often resulting in serious, sometimes fatal injuries.

If you’ve been hurt in a commuter train accident in Illinois, contact Coplan & Crane. Commuter train accident cases can be complicated, especially since you’re often dealing with state officials, railroad unions and teams of lawyers representing them. Level the playing field. Contact Coplan & Crane today. Call (708) 358-8080 or (800) 394-6002 and schedule a free case evaluation.

Commuter train accidents involving passengers can cover a wide range. Sometimes, people get hurt while getting on or off a train. A slip and fall accident on a train in Chicago can result in serious losses. Other times, they can be injured if the train’s involved in a collision with a vehicle or another train. Whatever the reason, such injuries can often change a person’s life forever. They might be paralyzed or unable to function normally due to a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury.

Commuter train accidents involving railroad workers can be more complex. We have experience handling FELA claims and various workplace injuries. Railroad workers face a wide range of risks, including falling from a train platform or the train itself, to being run over by a train or injured while working on one. Each accident is unique. That’s why we approach each case with an open mind and work closely with clients to create a strategy that suits your specific legal needs.

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Metra Train Accidents

Metra trains serve Illinois commuters on 11 different rail lines at 241 different stations, making the rail network one of the largest in the country. Metra trains are operated by the Illinois Regional Transportation Authority, known to many simply as the RTA. When accidents happen on Metra trains, dealing with the RTA can sometimes be difficult. Instead of getting straight answers and compensation for your injuries, you sometimes encounter a lot of red tape and little or no financial assistance.

Metra train accidents can cover a wide range. Sometimes, riders or workers suffer a slip and fall accident on a platform, resulting in a head or neck injury or even something more serious, like a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury. Other times, commuters are struck by a train, fall from a train platform or are even assaulted on a train. Any one of these examples could be grounds for a legitimate lawsuit. If you work on a Metra train and you were hurt, be aware that Coplan & Crane is experienced in handling FELA claims.

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Crossing Accidents

Railroad crossings can be dangerous places for pedestrians and motorists in Illinois. As one of the nation’s busiest railroad hubs, Chicago and nearby communities have many railroad crossings used by a large number of trains every day. If railroad crossing signals aren’t working properly, the consequences can often be disastrous. In an instant, pedestrians, drivers and passengers in motor vehicles can be struck and seriously injured or killed by an on-coming train roaring through a railroad crossing.

As one of the nation’s busiest railroad hubs, Chicago and nearby communities have many railroad crossings used by a large number of trains every day. If railroad crossing signals aren’t working properly, the consequences can often be disastrous. In an instant, pedestrians, drivers and passengers in motor vehicles can be struck and seriously injured or killed by an on-coming train roaring through a railroad crossing.

Often, these accidents are due to the negligence of the train companies, which must ensure that the crossings are safe. The companies and employees must use reasonable care to avoid injury to any motorist, bicyclist or pedestrian crossing the train tracks.

Some of the factors that may contribute to a crossing accident include:

  • Overgrown vegetation obstructing visibility
  • Failure to sound the whistle to warn drivers and pedestrians
  • Broken train whistle or other train defects
  • Missing crossbucks
  • Signal malfunction
  • Poor lines of sight or obstructed view of crossing
  • Road grade or curves in the road or track, leading to poor visibility
  • Speeding train
  • Derailment at a crossing

Unfortunately, railroad crossing accidents can often be extremely complicated. Sometimes, the railroad tracks themselves can be owned by one company and the train itself can be owned by another company. Dealing with all these corporations and their teams of lawyers can be very confusing. One person might tell you one thing, while another person says something completely different.

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Derailment Accidents

Train derailment accidents in Chicago and throughout Illinois are not uncommon. As home to one of the nation’s largest railroad networks, reports of train derailments in Illinois happen far more often here than many other states.

If you’ve been injured in a train derailment accident in Illinois, you need an experienced Chicago railroad accident lawyer on your side, fighting for your rights. You need someone who understands the state’s complicated legal system and knows how to get you the compensation you rightfully deserve. You need Coplan & Crane.

We understand the serious nature of derailment accident injuries, which can range from broken bones to traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and even death. Too much is at stake to try and deal with the railroads, their claims adjusters or the insurance companies and the red tape on your own. We fight hard to get the compensation our clients need for their medical bills, loss of income, pain and suffering and other damages related to the accident.

Chicago train accident lawyers who deliver results, one case at a time

Derailment accidents can happen for many reasons. Sometimes, the switches on the railroad tracks are not set properly. Other times, someone who works for a railroad company made a mistake or did not perform the necessary maintenance work. Whoever made the mistake needs to be held accountable. That’s what we do best – work hard to uncover the truth.

We handle all types of derailment accidents. Whether they involve commuter train accidents, Metra train accidents or CTA ‘L’ train accidents, we can help. Contact Coplan & Crane today. Call (708) 358-8080 or (800) 394-6002 and schedule a free case evaluation.

Coplan & Crane – driven to succeed, focused on results.

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