VA Man Seriously Injured in Train Wreck

8/20/2011
Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton
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Virginia Beach Man Injured in Norfolk Light Rail Train Wreck

A van collided with a Tide light-rail train at Brambleton Avenue and 2nd Street in Norfolk, Virginia (VA), on August 17, 2001, when he turned right in front of the light-rail train despite the presence of a "No Right Turn Across Tracks Sign." The Virginian-Pilot report on the incident noted the crash was the third for the commuter trains and the second incident at that particular intersection.

The van's driver, a 70-year-old resident of Virginia Beach complained of shoulder pain after the collision and was cited for disregarding the signals. Luckily, the driver of the light-rail train was not injured, and there were no passengers aboard.

Earlier in August, a car clipped a train, causing no injuries but smashing off the left front quarter of The Tide vehicle. In June, a bicyclist collided with the side of a train at a crossing near the corner of York and Botetourt streets.

These Virginia train accidents are stark reminders for trains to sound audible signals or provide large written warnings at train tracks so drivers can yield the right of way, and for drivers to pay attention to signals so not only their lives, but the lives of train passengers and conductors, won't be put at risk. Serious brain and spinal cord injuries, and death, may result from train crashes.

The excitement about our new Norfolk light rail is great. However, it completely changes the traffic rules and flow where the new tracks run. The traffic engineers need to really study what is needed to effectively warn cars and bikes about the new risks and hazards. At this point, the mistakes made by pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists are not necessarily their fault, but the growing pains of a new system which catches people in confusing traps leading to collisions.

To learn more about what to do when you or a loved one gets hurt in a train accident, watch our videos on locomotive safety.

LC

Category: Mass Transit (Airline, Train, Bus)

Labels: accident Attorney injured lawyer Light rail train Norfolk personal injury rail serious injuries Shapiro The Tide train VA Virginia

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Viriginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling cases for victims of mass transit accidents such as airplane, train and bus crashes. In fact, our law firm published a free consumer safety guide on what to do if you are hurt in a plane wreck.

We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia but we're ready to come to you anywhere in VA including Suffolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Norfolk, VA, 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, an honor fewer than 5 percent of lawyers receive.

Shapiro and Lewis have also been selected for inclusion in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, ours was the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA mass transit injury law 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.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultations. 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 respond directly to you.

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Virginia Beach Man Injured in Norfolk Light Rail Train Wreck

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