Though train accidents do not seem as common as car accidents, they do occur. Just like after a car accident, there are important steps to take after a train accident occurs. Whether the victim was in a car or in the train when the accident occurred, the first step after ensuring one's safety is to take note of any evidence on the scene. If the victim's car was hit by the train, it is important to contact the car insurance company immediately to get a claim started. Finally, an attorney experienced in representing people involved in train accidents should be contacted to consider an accident lawsuit.
Most train accidents are investigated thoroughly by authorities, typically more so than a regular vehicle accident because more people are usually involved. Thus, police and officials with the train company will likely arrive and begin collecting evidence. It should be noted that authorities with the train company will typically try to protect their employer, so they might not gather details that would pin the blame on the train company. For this reason, anyone who could be held liable for the train accident, such as the driver of any vehicles involved, should conduct their own investigation. This includes noting details like whether the railroad crossing signal was working, if the train sounded its horn, or whether there was any debris present that should not have been, and what the weather was like.
The driver of any car involved in a train accident should call his or her insurance company soon after the crash, just after any injuries are treated. It is important to let the insurer know the details of the accident so that a claim can get started. This will help ensure that medical bills and vehicle damages are paid for as soon as possible. Any pictures that were taken at the scene of the train accident should be furnished to the insurer, as well as police reports and witness statements.
Many insurance companies will go after the train company for money if they believe that the insured driver was not at-fault. Most major train companies are likely to have legal representation prepared to fight the charges, which means that the driver's bills may go unpaid. If the driver has enough evidence to show that the train accident was not their fault, they should consider seeking an attorney. Winning an accident settlement is one way to pay for medical and vehicle bills if necessary, so finding an experienced lawyer is one possible step to take after a train accident.