Missouri Accident Lawyer Blog

Kelvin E. Wooten, 43, of Dexter, Missouri was killed in a Missouri train accident on January 25, 2012. The train crash happened in Stoddard County, Missouri at 2:00pm.

Wooten was driving a 2004 Pontiac on County Road 657, 2 miles west of Dexter. A Union Pacific train slammed into the Pontiac. The force of the impact caused the Pontiac to overturn off the county road. Wooten was not wearing a seatbelt during the accident. The railroad crossing was only marked by a sign. There were neither warning lights nor other automatic warning devices at the crossing.

Train accidents at railroad crossings caused the death or personal injury of the lives of roughly 2,000 Americans each year. According to the Federal Railroad Administration, there can be nearly 3,000 collisions at railroad crossing in a single year.

Train accident victims often wonder who is liable for a Missouri train accident? Train accidents are most common at railroad crossings. Some railroad crossings are equipped with automatic warning devices, but many crossings are only marked by sign. However, merely posting signs at railroad-roadway intersections may not be enough to prevent deadly accidents.

Posting signs at intersections is not enough to completely prevent accidents. The signs must be check regularly to be effective. If left unchecked, the signs may fall over during inclement weather. A negligent driver may hit the sign and leave it on the ground. Nearby foliage may grow and cover the sign from view. Signs at intersections must be maintained and checked to provide adequate warning to drivers.

Victims of Missouri train accidents should contact a Missouri train accident lawyer for more information about their options. Our attorneys are well-versed in Missouri’s personal injury laws and provide free legal consultations to accident victims.