IL Family Wins $36 Million in Fiery Train Derailment Lawsuit

A Rockford, Illinois family will receive $36 million from the Canadian National Railway Company after the wife and mother died as a result of a train derailment near Rockford in June 2009.  The woman’s husband and daughter were both seriously injured in the fiery explosion.

The family was sitting at the railroad crossing when 18 of the 114 cars of the train, which were carrying over 2 million gallons of ethanol, derailed and erupted in flames.  The family car became engulfed in flames.  The woman died as she ran from the car trying to escape the fire.  The daughter, who was 19-years-old and pregnant at the time, suffered serious burns and lost her baby.

The family’s lawyer found that the train’s engineer had been warned that the track was washed out in the direction he was heading.  However, instead of stopping the train, the engineer apparently sped up in hopes of maneuvering the tracks.

A spokesman for the train company said, “The family has endured a terrible tragedy and CN wishes to express again its sincerest regrets and deepest sympathies to the entire family. No amount of money can replace the family’s losses.”

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a fire or explosion accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering and lost wages.   For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact Munley Law online or call us toll free at 1-800-318-LAW1.