What Happened
Local police received a call from the Buckingham Branch Railroad train’s crew stating a female pedestrian had been struck. The 18 year old victim was struck near the Luck Stone Quarry on Richmond Road. The location is several miles off the highway which caused emergency personnel some time to get to. Upon arrival they pronounced her dead on the scene.
The Virginia Wrongful Death Lawyers’ Perspective
It is always disheartening to hear of a pedestrian being killed by a train. With the limited details it is hard to know how the accident happened. One unfortunate circumstance involved with any pedestrian train accident is the railroad companies have their own investigators to examine the scene of the accident. The problem of this fact is that law enforcement is unfamiliar with laws involving railroads, so they take the word of the railroad investigator. This is an unfortunate occurrence because the investigator is on the pay roll of the railroad company and is familiar with railroad law. It is very common for these investigators to blame the accident on the pedestrian. This is why it’s essential to contact a Virginia (VA) wrongful death lawyer. An experienced firm will have their own investigators examine the scene of the accident as well as the evidence provided by local law enforcement. If it can be proven the railroad company is at fault for the accident or the warning indicators of the tracks were malfunctioning there may be the potential for a wrongful death claim. If a loved one was killed by a train, do not hesitate to call for a private consultation.
Potentially Helpful Info
If you have been injured in a freight train or passenger rail accident, download this free report written by personal injury attorneys based in Virginia (VA) who specialize in railroad cases to begin learning about your legal rights and options to file claims for compensation.
Have Questions? Check Out Our Firm’s FAQs.
You can learn more by reading through our online library of lawyers’ answers to frequently asked questions about railroad accidents and injuries.
RW
NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather