Unguarded Railroad Crossings Along Route 6 in Mayfield, Jermyn, and Forest City: Who’s Liable When a Crash Happens?

Every day, drivers in Mayfield, Jermyn, and Forest City cross railroad tracks along Route 6 and surrounding borough streets with little more than a crossbuck sign to warn them. These at-grade crossings run along the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western (DL&W) corridor, one of northeastern Pennsylvania’s oldest rail lines, built in the coal era and still carrying freight today. When those crossings lack gates, flashing lights, or adequate sightlines, a serious crash can happen in seconds.

If you or someone you love was hurt at an unguarded railroad crossing near Route 6, you may be wondering who is legally responsible. Is it the railroad? The state? The borough? The answer often involves multiple parties, and understanding liability at these crossings matters deeply when you’re trying to recover from a serious injury.

If you were injured at a railroad crossing in Mayfield, Jermyn, Forest City, or the surrounding Lackawanna Valley communities, […]

After Amtrak Tragedy, What Everyone Should Know about Train Accidents

Tragic Amtrak crash a rarity

On Wednesday, we learned of the Amtrak train that derailed in Philadelphia Tuesday night, leaving eight people dead and 200 injured. The train was traveling at more than 100 mph, more than double the speed limit for that area. The engineer claims to have no memory of the train derailing.

As of now, all 238 passengers are believed to be accounted for, according to Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter. Amtrak is hoping to resume rail service in the area of the crash next week. Questions about what factors were responsible for the crash, what will become of the engineer, and what will happen to the victims of the accident still remain.

In the wake of this tragedy, here’s what everyone should know

1. First, it is worth noting that train crashes like this one are very rare. […]

Fatal Vehicle-Train collisions can often be prevented

Last week, WNEP news reported that two men died in Lycoming County after the pickup truck they were riding in collided with a freight train. Police reported that the truck was driving over a railroad crossing when it collided with a Norfolk Southern Train.

About every 3 hours a person or vehicle is hit by a train, according to Operation Lifesaver, a non-profit organization focused on providing education to prevent collisions at a railroad track and highway-rail grade crossings. The average locomotive weighs about 400,000 pounds or 200 tons and can weigh up to 6,000 tons. This makes the weight ratio of a car to a train proportional to that of a soda can to a car. By the time a locomotive engineer sees a person or vehicle on the tracks, it is often too late. It takes a freight train traveling at 55 mph more than a mile, […]