The potential threat that large commercial trucks pose to vehicles on the road is well-known. However, the massive size of these vehicles and the energy that they exert may also present dangers in areas away from Denver’s main roads and highways. If a truck inadvertently causes damages to property or other features, such damage could potentially put others at risk. The potential to cause such a problem still exists even if the incident that caused it left little to no damage on the truck itself.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board believe that damage caused to a railway line by a truck could potentially be the reason behind a commuter train’s derailment in Kansas. The train went off the track shortly after midnight when an operator applied its emergency brake after noticing that the track it was approaching had shifted. 32 people were injured in the derailment, some of whom were brought to Amarillo for treatment.
The subsequent investigation has revealed that a truck delivering feed to a cattle farm located near the train tracks likely hit the track and moved it more than a foot off course. The spot where the damage occurred was not a designated rail crossing.
At least one person involved in the incident shared the concern that the company that owned the truck should be held liable for the resultant accident. While no fault has been assigned in this case yet, such frustration may be understandable. Those who believe that their accidents may have been the unfortunate byproducts of damage caused by the allegedly negligent operation of a commercial vehicle may have a good case for compensation. Such a claim may be bolstered even further with support of an experienced personal injury attorney.
Source: USA Today “NTSB: Truck shifted track before Amtrak accident” Hegemen, Roxana, Mar. 16, 2016
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