×
×
The Horwitz Law Group

call/text for free consultation
312.641.9200

Search
≡Menu
Search
Menu
Blog
Text
Call

Blog

HomeBlogMass Transit AccidentsChicago Metra Accidents and the Hazards of Oncoming Trains
05 December, 2019

Chicago Metra Accidents and the Hazards of Oncoming Trains

Train crossings are dangerous places in Chicagoland, especially for pedestrians. At busy crossings, stopped trains sometimes hide oncoming ones, tricking pedestrians into thinking it is safe to cross – and raising the risk of a Chicago train accident.

By the time a conductor sees a pedestrian on the tracks, it’s too late to avoid an accident. The average train traveling 55 miles per hour needs a full mile of track to come to a complete stop.

This very scenario played out in Downers Grove this past November.

A 51 year-old woman from Joliet was killed in a train accident near the Main Street Metra Station. She was struck by an oncoming Burlington Northern/Santa Fe freight train.

The area where the woman was killed has three sets of tracks. At the time of the accident, a Metra commuter train was stopped on the first set of tracks. Although the crossing gates were down, the woman apparently went around the barriers and began crossing the tracks. She was between the first and second set of tracks when she was struck and killed by the BNSF train, which was approaching from behind the parked Metra train.

Accident Could Have Been Prevented

No one will ever know exactly what was going through the woman’s mind when she began crossing the tracks. It’s likely she was unaware of the oncoming freight train and thought it would be safe to cross the tracks.

After the accident, police reminded pedestrians to never try and cross train tracks when the gate is down. However, many pedestrians do, especially when they think the crossing gate is down for a train that is stopped or for one that just cleared the station.

Over the last year, some Metra stations have received safety upgrades to warn pedestrians about oncoming trains and avoid mass transit accidents. The so-called “Another Train Warning System” employs audio and visual warnings to alert pedestrians that a train – in addition to the one that is stopped at the station – is approaching.

The system is designed to address the safety hazards posed by mass transit systems, like the Metra, that share stations and track with freight trains.

So far, the warning system has only been installed at a small number of Metra stations. Had the system been installed at Downers Grove, a life could have been saved.

03 November 2019
Illinois Motorcycle Accidents Must be Reduced
06 January 2020
Educating Illinois Teens About the Hard Truth of Seat Belt Safety

Categories

Archives

Testimonials

Case Results

$6,900,000.00

for a motor vehicle wrongful death case.

$5,300,000.00

for a 75-year-old woman who suffered an above the knee amputation due to being run over by a private school bus.

$4,500,000.00

for a young lady who was run over by a private waste hauling company while crossing the street.

$3,600,000.00

for a trucking accident resulting in the death of the driver.

$3,000,000.00

for a 70 year old man who died, without any living relatives, seven months after being hit by a car while crossing the street.

$2,300,000.00

for a client whose family was killed by a street sweeper that ran a red light.

$2,100,000.00

for a client injured in a 2005 Metra train derailment case.

$1,600,000.00

for a minor rear-ended on an expressway in Kankakee.

$1,400,000.00

for a premises liability accident resulting in below the knee amputation.

$1,200,000.00

for a woman who was hit by a car while crossing the street.

$1,197,000.00

for a client who was injured on the CTA red line train.

$900,000.00

for a bicyclist hit by a car.

$800,000.00

for a passenger injured in a rideshare rollover accident.

$750,000.00

for a rideshare accident injury.

$600,000.00

for a low-speed rear-end accident.

$500,000.00

for injuries in a van accident pulling a trailer.

$500,000.00

for a minor injured in a ride-share accident.

$495,000.00

for a pedestrian injured due to a sidewalk defect.

$350,000.00

for a passenger injured in a rideshare rollover accident.

$289,000.00

for a driver injured in an auto accident.

$270,000.00

for injuries from a right-turning truck.

$260,000.00

for a family injured in an auto accident.

$255,000.00

for a law enforcement officer rear-ended by a truck.

$250,000.00

for a motorcyclist rear-ended.

$233,000.00

for an individual injured by a dog.

$225,000.00

for a bicyclist hit by a car while crossing the street.

$201,000.00

for a driver rear-ended on the expressway.

$175,000.00

for a client who had lawyers at another law firm trying to settle the accident case for only $60,000.

Tell Us About Your Case

To arrange a free initial consultation with an experienced Illinois injury lawyer complete the e-mail form below.

Chicago Office

20 N. Clark Street Suite 3300
Chicago, IL 60602 | USA

Phone: 312-641-9200
Fax: 312-641-9201

Attorney Advertising. This information is designed for general information only. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. Past results and testimonials are not a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of the outcome of your case, and should not be construed as such. Past results cannot guarantee future performance. Any result in a single case is not meant to create an expectation of similar results in future matters because each case involves many different factors, therefore, results will differ on a case-by-case basis. By providing certain contact information herein, you are expressly authorizing the recipient of this message to contact you via the methods of communication provided.

NUVEW | Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Notice