Railroad Accidents/FELA
Major railroad accidents are few and far between, but when they occur, the results are often catastrophic. Although our nation's railway technologies have improved since the introduction of the locomotive, there is, sadly, still considerable room left for human error. Other causes of train accidents include derailment, explosions on board, and bridge collapses.
Make Sense of Train Accidents and Railroad Injuries
The personal injuries that follow cases such as these tend to range widely depending on the severity of the event. If you have been injured in a railway workplace accident, or in a train crossing, chances are that you are facing serious decisions that require the assistance of an attorney. Before you sign any document that you don't completely understand or are comfortable with, call Cavanagh Law Group where our attorney's can help you understand your options.
A National Reputation for Railroad Accidents -
Choosing an attorney can be a difficult task. Railroad negligence and FELA cases tend to be large in scale, and that means you want to work with attorneys who can handle major litigation such as this. Timothy J. Cavanagh has been named one of the top 500 plaintiffs' lawyers in the United States by LawDragon Magazine, and our full team of experts is responsible for some of the most significant settlements in American history. It is perhaps no coincidence that we have earned substantial settlements for accidents such as these.
Our areas of focus in railroad law as attorneys experienced in train accident and railroad injury cases include:
- FELA Railroad Worker Injuries
- Train Derailments
- Train/Motor Vehicle Collisions
Some of our major railroad accident settlements include:
- Velarde v. Illinois Central Railroad Co., et. al.,
Resulted in a total verdict of $55,715,406.65 (Verdict for passengers - 21,310,406.65) - A couple was awarded a total of $21,310,406.65 for injuries suffered in a January 9, 2001 car/train collision. Fidel, age 73, and Francisca, age 73, were passengers of an SUV struck by an 8 million pound train at 50 miles per hour. The crossing gates and lights were not working and the dispatcher erroneously told the train crew that the crossing was protected. The plaintiffs suffered traumatic brain injuries in the collision. The total award to the Velardes and their daughter, who was the driver of the car, totaled over $55 million.
This was a state record in Illinois for a railroad crossing collision case. The trial of the lawsuit was expedited at the request of plaintiffs' counsel due to the Velardes agent. On February 8, 2002, after a two week trial, Timothy J. Cavanagh received a record verdict in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of his clients.
- Ajmeri v. Illinois Central Railroad Co., et al.,
Resulted in a Settlement of $9,100,000 - Hanifa Ajmeri was severely injured in March, 1998 after the car she was riding in collided with a train in DuPage County. Ms. Ajmeri was left with nerve and mild brain damage. The case stemmed from an accident in Bloomingdale, Illinois, when a car that carried Ajmeri was hit by a train owned by the Illinois Central Railroad Co. At the time of the accident, the train was operated by Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad Co.
According to her attorney, Timothy J. Cavanagh, railroad crossing lights were not visible at the time of the accident due to blizzard-like weather conditions, and the crossing gate for the southbound traffic had been knocked down.
The February 8, 2000, settlement was reached while counsel was picking a jury. The trial was slated to begin that same afternoon.
Contact Cavanagh Law Group Today
Chicago train and railroad accident attorneys at Cavanagh Law Group will thoroughly investigate your case to determine the cause of the accident and have the guilty party held liable for your injuries and damages. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney. There are no upfront costs because we take all cases on contingency basis. This means you pay nothing unless we win your case. If you have suffered injuries as a result of a train accident, immediately contact an experienced Chicago attorney at Cavanagh Law Group at 312-425-1900 who can aggressively pursue your rights.
Free Consultation - You Will Not Be Charged a Fee Unless You Receive Compensation.
Call Cavanagh Law Group today at 312-425-1900, or by email.