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10/25/2011
Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton
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Chesapeake, VA Personal Injury Attorney Reports: Kentucky Teen Killed at Norfolk Southern Track Crossing That Lacks Gates

A 19-year-old appears to have been temporarily blinded by the sun before driving into the path of a freight train and losing her life at a railroad crossing just outside of Harrodsburg, Kentucky (KY). The fatal collision occurred October 16, 2011, along tracks owned by Norfolk Southern.



Television station Lex18 reported that the crossing where the teenager was killed has flashing warning lights to alert drivers and pedestrians that trains are approaching the grade crossing with Bohon Road/State Highway 390. There are no gates, however, and officials could not immediately determine whether the warning lights were operating correctly at the time of the crash.

The victim's mother has called on Norfolk Southern to improve safety at all crossings, particularly by ensuring that arms that lower automaticcaly lower when trains are coming get installed. NS has responded that Kentucky's state transportation department has responsibility for constructing crossing gates at the Bohon Road site.

As a personal injury attorney who practices in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC) and who has represented several victims of rail accidents at poorly marked and controlled train crossings, I'll add my voce to those asking NS, transportation agencies and any companies or landowners who have responsibility for ensuring safety at track crossings to install gates.

Gates are not guaranteed to keep drivers, bike riders and pedestrians off tracks, but data compiled by the Federal Highway Administration indicate that gates prevent more than 8 times as many grade crossing deaths as do stop signs. And preventing crossing collisions protects train crews as well as members of the public, a point NS would benefit from acknowledging rather than shrugging off responsibility from improving crossing safety.

EJL
 

Category: Railroad Injury/FELA

Labels: collision Cooper crossing gates Death Kentucky loss of life Norfolk Southern North Carolina personal injury attorney NS Railroad Crossing accident stop signs teen killed track crossing safety train crew warning lights


About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have handled hundreds of Federal Employers' Liability Act claims for railroad workers hurt or made ill while doing their rail jobs. We also have represented many people injured in train accidents. Please take a few moments to review our railroad injury case results. Our primary offices are in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008, and have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill. Our attorneys have even been included in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009.

We would like to send you one of our free reports about railroad injury and FELA cases, including Dos & Don'ts When Injured at a Railroad: Your FELA Rights and What Railroad Claim Agents Agents Won't Tell You (But You Must Know).

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer a free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.

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