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Train Accident Statistics

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train accident statistics and injuries and fatalities

The railroad industry plays a vital role in transporting passengers and goods throughout the United States, with many transportation routes extending through Illinois and beyond. The Federal Railroad Administration and the Department of Transportation maintain the country’s railroads.

Someone may be to blame when a person gets injured in a railroad collision, whether while on duty or as a passenger. Train collisions can occur for several reasons, with human error and trespassing being the most common.

A Chicago train crash lawyer can help those injured by public transportation, helping to recover compensation. 

In the meantime, understanding the commonality and causes of United States train accidents can be helpful. Here are a few essential train statistics.

How Common Are Train Accidents in the United States?

In 2022, 6,252 people suffered injuries in train accidents [1]. About three train derailments occur each day [2]. However, not all of these lead to injury. Railroads are typically a safe mode of transportation for passengers and cargo. However, train fires can affect those on duty, and trail derailments carrying hazardous materials can impact those who live near the railroads’ route.

How Common are Train Accidents in Illinois?

The Federal Railroad Administration in Illinois reported 396 train accidents from 2021 to 2023. The Agency lists common causes of accidents, including human error, failure to slow the car, mechanical problems, and computer system issues [3]. 

In 2023, Illinois reported 102 train collisions, 18 of which led to fatalities and 22 injuries. This puts Illinois sixth in the United States for railroad incidents [4]. This is a slight improvement from 2022, when Illinois ranked third for train collisions in the United States [5]. 

Cook County experiences some of the highest highway-rail incident rates in Illinois and the United States [6]. However, even with the highest rate of incidents reported, the county has noticed improvement year over year, dropping 18.8% from 2019 to 2020 and 38.5% from 2020 to 2021 [6].

Some train collisions in Illinois are worse than others. In 2023, a Chicago Transit Authority train crash made news after a commuter train collided with highway-rail equipment, injuring 38 passengers. The train operator suffered the worst injuries [7].

Trespassing continues to be one of the leading causes of train casualties. Illinois ranks fifth in trespassing-related casualties [5].

Train Accident Injuries

Common injuries when a person is involved in a train accident include broken bones, internal bleeding, amputation, and temporary or permanent disability. The good news is that highway-rail incidents and injury rates are decreasing.

The number of injuries is decreasing without reporting a reduction in the number of train miles traveled [8]. The Federal Railroad Administration also reported that train accident rates have declined by 27% since 2000 and 6% since 2022 [9]. Those working for the highway-rail system experienced a 63% drop in injuries and fatalities, reaching the first all-time low since 2023 [9].

Common Causes of Train Accidents

Data shows a few common causes of train accidents, which include the following:

  • Derailment: Derailment is a leading cause of train accidents [10]. However, derailment rates have dropped 30% since 2000 [9]. In 2023, the U.S. reported 742 train derailments, which is still lower than the previous average of 2,808 per year since 1978 [10]. 
  • Hazardous materials: Train incidents involving hazardous materials are dangerous to workers and nearby citizens. Fortunately, the number of such train accidents has decreased by 75% since 2000 [9].
  • Human and equipment error: Human and equipment errors can also lead to train collisions. Accidents due to human and equipment errors have decreased by 18% and 31% since 2000. Human error incidents temporarily increased the rate of highway-rail accidents before 2022 but are still 50% less than in the year 2000 [9].
  • Trespassing: More than 95% of highway-rail incidents are caused by trespassers [9]. Trespassers account for over 650 of the 950 casualties reported from 2007 to 2022 [1]. 
  • Fires: On-board transportation fires account for a small percentage of incidents, with around 12 per year [10]. 
  • Automotive drivers: Other drivers on the road who ignore railway intersection laws can also cause a crash. In 2023, approximately 2,190 automotive collisions involved a train, leading to 248 fatalities and 765 injuries [4].

While the Federal Railroad Administration and Department of Transportation are taking critical steps toward improving railway transportation for everyone, accidents and fatalities can and still do occur.

Train Accident Fatality Rates

The United States reported 954 railroad fatalities in 2022, an 11% increase from the previous year. This is also the highest rate of train fatalities in over 15 years [1].

Motor vehicle drivers were most likely to suffer from life-sustaining injuries while involved in a train accident [1]. Pedestrians also make up a small percentage of fatality rates [1]. Illinois ranks sixth with train casualties. Other states with higher fatalities included Texas, California, Georgia, Florida, and Indiana [4]. 

The Cost of Train Accidents

A single collision involving trains can cost upwards of a billion or more dollars, leading to a need for stricter safety protocols and Federal Railroad administration laws.  The Federal Railroad Administration and Department of Transportation also created The Railway Safety Act of 2023 following the derailment of the hazardous material-carrying train in East Palestine, Ohio [11]. The bill would allocate a revolving fund to the Department of Transportation (DOT) to promote better safety systems. It would also increase civil penalties for rail carriers who violate current safety requirements. [12]. While the bill was approved in Congress, it has been stalled in the Senate [13].

Train accidents can cost an injured person thousands of dollars in medical bills, lost wages, and cleanup costs in the nearby city and county. Property damages can exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars in a train crash.

Data shows that the occurrence of train accidents is decreasing. Railroads are becoming safer, and collisions and casualties are fewer and farther in between. However, any life lost due to train collisions is too many. We rely on the Federal Railroad Administration and the Department of Transportation to keep the public safe.

You may be entitled to compensation if a train derailment or collision injured you or a loved one. A train accident lawyer can help you recover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our dedicated personal injury law firm has successfully represented those injured by trains or other forms of public transportation.

Contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers today at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation. Whether you were involved in a train crash while riding as a passenger or from the dangerous chemicals a train carried through your city, our legal team has the expertise you need.

Resources: [1] NSC, [2] NPR, [3] Federal Railroad Administration, [4] Operation Lifesaver, [5] Illinois Commerce Commission, [6] FRA Safety Data, [7] APNews, [8] Bureau of Transportation Statistics, [9] Association of American Railroads, [10] USA Facts, [11] WHYY PBS, [12] Congressional Budget Office, [13] Progressive Farmer.

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