Train Accident Reconstruction Expert Witness

Crash Data Services, LLC

Providing quality traffic accident
investigation and reconstruction

In 2008, there were 2,397 total highway-rail
accidents in the United States.

A highway-rail accident is any crash between
a train and a highway user at a crossing site,
regardless of severity. Highway-rail accidents
include collisions between trains and motor
vehicles, pedestrians and other highway or
sidewalk users at both public and private
crossings. In the 2008 highway-rail accidents,
287 people were killed and 943 more people
were injured.

In 2007, The United States had approximately
139,862 public grade crossings. Of those
crossings, only about 50,132 had gates,
23,215 had flashing lights, and 1,248 had
highway traffic signals, wigwags, and bells. At
the remaining crossings, only passive control
devices, such as crossbucks, were used to
warn motorists.

In some cases, inappropriately posted or
defective highway-rail warning devices may
contribute to the causality of a collision.
Warning devices must be posted at specific
heights and locations along crossings. For an
example of a crossbuck and stop/yield sign
combination warning device, please click
here.

And while highway-rail warning devices
should always be inspected during the
reconstruction of a train accident, they are
certainly not the only possible causal factor.
Highway-rail accidents can also be caused by
mechanical failures, driver or conductor
negligence, environmental factors, or limited
sight distances.

Regardless of the type of crash, our accident
reconstruction experts will thoroughly
investigate a collision and provide informative
conclusions.

Generally, how traffic signs/signals are
displayed is governed by the US
Department of Transportation’s Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices. To read
the MUTCD, please click here.

Illinois accounts for about 7% – 9% of all US train accidents. - Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis

In addition, state legislatures have adopted
additional requirements with regard to
specific warning devices, such as the Illinois
Supplement to the National Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices. To read
the ISMUTCD, please click here.