The dangers of poorly marked railroad crossings becomes all too apparent when a report into a rail crossing accident rules that warning signals were too dim to be seen properly by drivers. No matter how well marked or when well positioned barriers are present, a railroad crossing in any environment presents a serious danger to all crossers, people and vehicles alike. When no physical barriers are present, the only protection a driver has are signs, lights and their own sense of danger. Railroads assume that the public is aware of the danger and will act accordingly. This does not, however, relieve them of the responsibility of using the most effective means for minimizing the danger to those who must cross the tracks.
Dim Crossing lights and the death of a four-year-old
A young girl was being driven by her grandmother when their car was crushed in a the 60mph collision at a train crossing.
The grandmother, 67, drove her car went through the automatic barrier because the lights – known locally as wigs-wags – were too dim to be seen, an accident report revealed.
Local residents rescued the toddler from the wreckage and she was taken by air ambulance to a children’s hospital but she died from her injuries the same night.
Her grandmother survived with severe neck injuries while no passengers on the train were hurt in the accident.
The investigation report ruled the signals were well below specified brightness and could not be seen in low winter sunshine. The signal lights have since been replaced.
The report also said the weather was sunny at the time of the mid day collision but local showers left the road surface wet, leading to glare from the low winter sun.
The report went on: “The light output of the signal lights was measured to be well below the specification for lights of this type.”
If you have been involved in a crossing accident and you need the services of a Personal Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles please contact us at (323) 947-2224 or visit the Personal Injury section on our website at the DAG Law Firm. Call today and we will connect you with Daniel A. Gibalevich, an experienced, aggressive, affordable Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles. After you have spoken with our Los Angeles Personal Injury Law attorney, we can schedule you a free face to face appointment to discuss your circumstances. If you have questions or are considering any aspect of Personal Injury Law, we can help! Call us now at(323) 947-2224. We look forward to hearing from you and assisting you with any and all Personal Injury Law needs.
