In Charlotte’s Southend, seven people were treated at hospitals after our the driver of a Jeep rear-ended a vehicle stopped at a crossing gate, causing the car to drive through the crossing arm and strike a Lynx light-train that was passing through. Police are trying to determine whether drunk driving was involved in causing the North Carolina car-train crash.

The injuries were not life-threatening, but four of the victims suffered serious injuries. The operator, who was among those transported, was not injured. The two vehicles involved suffered severe damage. Three of those who were hurt had been riding in the vehicles when the accident happened.

While North Carolina light-rail train accidents don’t happen very often in Charlotte, there have recently been incidents involving pedestrians. Last year, one woman who didn’t noticed the train coming suffered serious injuries when she was struck while walking across the rails at the Scaleybark Road station. Another man, who was wearing headphones, also didn’t hear the train approaching and he too was struck.

Our Charlotte, North Carolina train accident lawyers represent train passengers, pedestrians, and vehicle occupants injured in an accident with a train. Please call the Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo, LLP today and ask for your free case evaluation.

According to an article published on VisualExpert.com, about 2400 deaths and serious injuries occur at train crossings each year. Sometimes the fault is that of a negligent train operator, who was distracted and failed to stop for a pedestrian or vehicle (that had the right of way at the time) or neglected to activate the appropriate signals to let others know the train was approaching. In other cases, the responsible party is a careless car driver or trucker, or a pedestrian who is busy texting, talking on a cell phone, listening to music, daydreaming.  or thinks that he/she can easily outrun an approaching train. The entity responsible for maintaining and supervising the trains and/or the crossing gate may also be at fault if the train malfunctioned or the crossing gate or signals failed.

Serious injuries can arise for everyone involved: the train passengers, the occupants of the vehicle, any pedestrians, or railroad workers on the tracks.  Also, vehicle passengers are at much higher risk of dying when colliding with a train than with another vehicle. Catastrophic injuries may also result, including spinal cord injuries, massive head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, crush injuries, and death.

Depending on what happened, there may be more than one party that you can/should pursue for financial recovery. The sooner you start working with an experienced Charlotte, North Carolina injury law firm, the sooner you can start building your case.

4 Seriously hurt in light-rail collision at Remount Road , Charlotte Observer, April 26, 2012

4 injured in Charlotte light rail accident, 2WNCT.com, April 26, 2012

Accidents at Rail-Highway Crossings, Visual Experts.com

More Blog Posts:

North Carolina Train Derailment Injures at Least 10, North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, May 13, 2010

NTSB Calls for Nationwide Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving, North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, December 16, 2011

Are Automobile Fumes More Deadly than North Carolina Auto Accidents Themselves?, North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer Blog, March 30, 2012

After spending a decade recommending that limits be placed on who can use a cell phone while operating a vehicle, now, the National Transportation Safety Board is now calling for a full ban on all cell phones and text messaging devices while driving. Only passengers would retain their right to talk on a phone or text message – unless it is an emergency situation, in which case a driver can call or text for help.

Currently, in North Carolina there is a statewide ban on texting while driving. Unlike a number of states, which have banned drivers from using hand-held cell phones, NC allows most drivers the use of both. The state has, however, prohibited drivers under 18 and school bus drivers from using cell phones. That said, even with such restrictions, this doesn’t mean that motorists are abiding by the laws. Our Charlotte, North Carolina personal injury law firm are aware of the impact that distracted driving can have on a motorist’s ability to drive safely. We represent victims and their families who suffered injury or experienced a death because a driver or another party was negligent and caused a North Carolina car accident.

Unfortunately, even though there is growing awareness of the dangers of texting and other distracted driving behaviors, many people can’t seem to stop. Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued its findings based on a national survey it conducted. Over 6,000 drivers participated.

Per the survey:

• At any moment in 2010, nearly 1 out of every 100 drivers was either emailing, texting, on the Internet, or using a hand-held device for other purposes while rating. This rate of activity is about 50% over from the year before.
• Most surveyed said they wouldn’t hesitate to answer an incoming call while driving.
• Almost 2 out of 10 drivers admitted to sending emails or texting while driving.
• Drivers in the 21-24 age group were more likely to text and drive.
• Over half of respondents said making a call while driving doesn’t impact the way they drive.
• About a quarter of those surveyed had the same opinion regarding how texting or sending emails affected their driving abilities.
• 90% said they don’t like it when they are riding in car operated by a driver that is texting.
• Bad weather was the situation during which most respondents would hesitate to talk on a cell phone or text/e-mail while driving.
• Bumper-to-bumper traffic and rapidly moving traffic were two situations that might compel some driver to stop texting/e-mailing/talking on the phone.

Driver electronic device use in 2010, NHTSA, December 2011 (PDF)

NTSB: Ban all driver use of cell phones, CBS, December 13, 2011

More drivers texting but few think it’s dangerous, survey says, Denver Post/AP, December 9, 2011

More Blog Posts:
Enter Our Charlotte, North Carolina Personal Injury Law Firm’s Drunk Driving Awareness Campaign This Holiday Season and Give Yourself the Chance to Win a Flip Camera, North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, December 12, 2011

North Carolina Personal Injury: The Dangers of Road Rage, North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog, December