A man in the Spokane Valley recently incurred a minor shoulder injury following an accident involving a train and car that occurred in Otis Orchards. The collision occurred close to the intersection of East Trent Avenue and North Harvard Road. The Spokane Valley Fire Department as well as several other departments responded to the incident. At the time of the accident, the driver was on the way to sell his van. The driver's wife was in the vehicle directly behind him and saw the crash occur. The husband's vehicle was struck by a train. 

Following the collision, the train stopped and the driver was fortunately able to escape the vehicle by crawling out of an exposed window. The husband is reported to have driven too fast and crossed the barricade but could not drive back in time to avoid being struck by the train. The husband was later taken to the hospital with a minor shoulder injury. One reason the husband is believed to have not been seriously injured is that he was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. 

Data shows that operating a motor vehicle in a reckless manner and speeding are the most common causes of accidents involving trains. Additionally, train operators are also known to speed. Remember, the faster that a train or motor vehicle travels, the worse the consequences if a crash occurs. Some other helpful strategies can also help you avoid the risk of ending up in a train accident.

The Dangerous Nature of Trains

The Federal Railroad Administration reports that in 2014, 11,896 train crashes occurred at railroad crossings. This led to trains killing one individual every 100 minutes. Over half of these accidents occurred at unprotected railroad crossings. A large number of accidents involved motor vehicle operators who collided with trains.

What You Can Do to Avoid Train Accidents

As a motor vehicle operator, there are several strategies that you can follow to avoid ending up in a collision with a train:

• Appreciate that the stopping time for trains is even greater than needed for commercial trucks.
• Avoid “racing” trains at crossings. Instead, it is much safer to wait for the train to pass. 
• If gates are lowered, you should never drive around them.
• Unfortunately, motor vehicles sometimes break down on railroad tracks. If you find yourself in such a situation, you should promptly exit your vehicle. It is then a good idea to call the police to inform them that your vehicle has broken down at this location.

Speak With a Knowledgeable Car Crash Attorney

Various parties can play a role in causing car crashes. If you or a loved one is involved in a crash and someone else is responsible, you should not hesitate to speak with an experienced attorney. Contact West Law Office today to schedule a free case evaluation.