LOOK. LISTEN. LIVE
Trains are a great addition to the Twin Cities. But like any moving vehicle, they come with warnings. Make safety a priority on and around trains. Adults and children should learn how to be safe around the tracks. National studies show that light-rail trains are safer than cars, trucks – and even buses. Metro Transit…
“Railroad Passenger Accidents and Injuries”
Article Author: Paul E. Godlewski Railroads continue to play a vital role in the American economy with more than one hundred thousand miles of rail line throughout the country. While passenger use of railroads has declined over time, rail transportation continues as a popular high-volume, low-cost method to ship freight and goods. The ongoing use…
Highway-Rail Crossing Program
Summary A highway-railroad grade crossing is an intersection where a roadway crosses railroad tracks at the same level (referred to by civil engineers as the same “grade”). America’s landscape is currently dotted with more than 250,000 public and private highway-rail grade crossings. In recent years, roughly 300-400 deaths have occurred annually at the Nation’s grade…
“Train Accidents Blamed on Maintenance Cutbacks, Crew Fatigue”
Article Author: Paul E. Godlewski Serious train accidents are caused by a variety of mechanical and/or human factors. A spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration in Washington and others have suggested that many mechanical failures are actually a result of deferred maintenance. The railroad companies, he said, in an effort to eke out greater profits…
Railroad Accidents – History
NOTE: Very few passengers were killed in a single U.S. train wreck up until 1853. These early trains ran slowly and made short trips, night travel was rare, and there were not many of them in operation. 1831 June 17, nr. Charleston, S.C.: boiler exploded on America’s first passenger locomotive, The Best Friend of…
Types of compensation recoverable in a wrongful death lawsuit
A wrongful death lawsuit maintains that a decedent was killed as a result of the negligence (or other liability) on the part of the defendant. It also states that the surviving dependents or beneficiaries are entitled to monetary damages as a result of the defendant’s conduct. The following types of damages are considered in a…
Minimize Risk and Injury
There are many ways to minimize the risk of vehicle rollover, as well as reduce the risk of serious injury should one occur. Statistics prove that wearing a safety belt has the greatest effect on reducing the chance of fatality—occupants are 75% less likely to be killed in a rollover crash if they are wearing…
The Physics of SUV Rollover Accidents
A recent PBS FrontLine program about SUV vehicle rollover accidents amazed me that no one, in the carmakers, in the legislators, or in the researchers, seemed to understand the very basic Physics involved! When I taught High School Physics, I gave problems comparable to that to the students! This presentation will describe the physics (and…
HIGHWAY-RAIL SAFETY: LOOK, LISTEN…LIVE!
Operation Lifesaver urges everyday motorists and professional drivers to remember these tips: Never drive around lowered gates – it’s illegal and deadly. If you suspect a signal is malfunctioning, call the 1-800 number posted on or near the crossing signal or your local law enforcement agency. Never race a train to the crossing – even…
Minnesota Wrongful Death Law
573.02 Action for death by wrongful act; survival of actions. Subdivision 1. Death action. When death is caused by the wrongful act or omission of any person or corporation, the trustee appointed as provided in subdivision 3 may maintain an action there for if the decedent might have maintained an action, had the decedent lived,…
Minnesota Wrongful Death Law : State of Minnesota
573.02 Action for death by wrongful act; survival of actions. Subdivision 1. Death action. When death is caused by the wrongful act or omission of any person or corporation, the trustee appointed as provided in subdivision 3 may maintain an action there for if the decedent might have maintained an action, had the decedent lived,…
Pedestrian Safety
We live in a motorized society where being a pedestrian can be risky. According to Crash Facts, published by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, nearly four percent of pedestrian crashes resulted in death in 2002, compared to about one-half percent of all other crashes. The leading identified contributing factor cited in pedestrian crashes is…
Pedestrian Safety—–Common Questions, Quick Answers
Why are children at greatest risk of pedestrian accidents? Children are at risk because they do not yet have the ability to make good decisions about traffic. It is hard for them to judge how fast a car is going and how far away it is. It is hard for them to tell how much…
Why Kids Are at Risk
“I can do it by myself.” Asserting independence is a natural part of children’s development, and parents often want to support their growing self-reliance. Yet when it comes to crossing the street, you might want to think twice before letting your children go solo. Very few children under age 10 can deal safely with traffic….
The Most Common Types of Accidents- General Aviation
General Aviation, is a class of airplane often referred to as "little planes," or "puddle jumpers.” The historical pattern of GA accidents has changed little in the modern era. While the number of accidents continues to decline to record low levels, the most common types of accidents keep showing up in the same relative proportions….
Causes of Airline Crashes (1950-2001)
Notable Causes by Category Air Traffic Control Error 06/13/1947 Leesburg, Virginia Pen Central Air 11/11/1949 Arlington, Virginia Eastern / U.S. AF 04/14/1958 Castel de Fels, Spain Aviaco 07/21/1961 Shemya, Alaska Alaska AL 02/08/1965 New York, New York Eastern AL 03/05/1969 San Juan, Puerto Rico Prinair 01/14/1970 Mt. Pumacona, Peru Faucett 02/06/1970 Samarkand, USSR Aeroflot…
A Winning Strategy in Defective Products Cases
INTRODUCTION A product case is won or lost in the early days following the accident, when the preliminary investigation must be initiated. This article will offer some suggestions on how to proceed in order to increase the client’s chance of success. IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION The first priority is to call an experienced products liability attorney who…
Proving Fault for Defective Product Injuries
Injuries directly caused by dangerous or defective products are sometimes easier to recover compensation than other injury cases. Why? "Product liability" or the legal rules concerning those responsible for defective or dangerous products is different from ordinary injury liability law. And, this set of rules sometimes makes it easier for an injured person to recover…
Rollover Accidents responsible for 10,000 deaths per year in U.S.
Rollover vehicle accidents account for more than 10,000 deaths in the United States in a given year, more than side and rear crashes combined. Rollovers also result in thousands of serious injuries each year. Most of these rollovers and related injuries may have been prevented by drivers and/or manufacturers of cars, trucks, vans and SUVs….
U.S. proposes road tests to measure vehicle rollover
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Regulators proposed road test standards Tuesday for measuring rollover risk in new vehicles, a cornerstone of landmark congressional requirements to improve auto safety after the Firestone tire debacle. The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration plans to put as many as 100 makes and models through two turning maneuvers at different speeds to…