Train Public Hazards

Freight train crashes can cause public health emergencies and permanent health issues.

1.7 million rail cars of hazardous materials are transported by train annually in the US. In the year 2000, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) documented that 725 of the reported railroad accidents involved trains transporting hazardous materials (hazmat). Out of 6,942 rail cars in those trains that contained hazmat, 979 of the cars were damaged and 75 cars released hazardous materials.  This resulted in 5,251 people being evacuated and over $26 million in property damage that was reported. The Department Of Transportation Research and Special Programs Administration database shows 711 of the hazmat related incidents in the year 2000 were classified as serious.

Adding to the danger in such disasters is the fact that emergency responders many times don't know the nature of the hazardous materials (hazmat) involved in the spill. In Salt Lake City, March of 2005, approximately 6,000 people were forced to evacuate when a toxic cloud filled the air. The emergency occurred when rail tank cars designed to transport sulfuric acid were compromised by their cargo and released hazmat into the atmosphere. Hazmat teams were unable to obtain cargo information from the tank operators and were forced to test the leaking material. The tanks were loaded with a mixture of acetic, hydrofluoric, phosphoric and sulfuric acids which the tank cars were never designed to carry. Public health and welfare, not to mention the safety of emergency teams, were compromised by the reckless behavior of the tank car operators.

 

For a free consultation, contact a railroad injury attorney at Arnold & Itkin LLP by calling toll free (866)222-2606 or by submitting the form at the top of this page.

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