Columbus, OH Lawyer Scott Elliot Smith Weighs In On Dangers Of Unmarked Railroad Crossings
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) October 05, 2013 -- Responding to the news of a deadly collision between a train and passenger vehicle, Columbus, Ohio auto accident lawyer Scott Elliot Smith today said that drivers must use extreme caution at railroad crossings in Ohio that might lack proper safety measures.
WHIO-TV (“Mom killed in Camden car-train crash identified,” August 28) reported that a woman was killed in late August after a train struck her minivan as she was entering her own driveway in Camden. One train was already stopped as the woman’s minivan attempted to cross the tracks, the article stated, potentially obscuring the woman’s view of the moving train.
“With no warning signals such as gates and warning lights to signal an oncoming train at many intersections, drivers in Ohio are forced to take their lives in their own hands every day,” said Smith, who represents victims of negligence and families whose loved ones were killed in accidents. “As this recent tragedy has shown, sometimes a stop sign isn’t enough to stop a fatal accident from taking place, even if the driver is following the rules of the road.”
According to WHIO, private crossings do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, which determines what safety features are needed at railroad crossings. At these private crossings, train engineers are only required to use their horn before they cross, with little more than a stop sign usually posted to warn drivers.
In addition, ABC 22 (“Dangers of Unmarked Railroad Crossings,” August 29) reported that these types of railroad crossings are not only common across central Ohio, but that only 54% of public railroad crossings in the state have lights and gates to warn of approaching trains. While private crossings are evaluated for safety needs based on the volume of trains that pass through each day, nearby residents said they reported consistent traffic.
Smith said lawmakers should take a serious look at the problem of dangerous railroad crossings before other tragedies occur.
“Unfortunately, tragedies such as this recent accident have illustrated a need to re-evaluate the safety of both public and private railroad crossings in central Ohio,” said Smith, a lawyer in Columbus, OH. “Failure to do so could result in catastrophic injuries and fatalities. Furthermore, these accidents could be grounds to file a lawsuit if a negligent party can be held responsible for what they did – or didn’t do – to prevent the accident.”
About the Law Offices of Scott Elliot Smith
A car accident attorney in Columbus, OH, Scott Elliot Smith has served the needs of Ohio accident victims for over 30 years. Working tirelessly to protect the rights of victims of negligence, including car accident victims, slip and fall accident victims, and those injured due to medical malpractice or workplace injuries, Smith has won all but three civil jury cases in which he’s served as lead counsel. Smith is also a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and Ohio Association of Justice.
For more information on what to do if you’ve been in a car accident in Ohio, call 800-930-7268 for a free case evaluation.
The Law Offices of Scott Elliot Smith is located at:
Arlington Falls Business Center
5003 Horizons Drive, Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43220
http://www.sestriallaw.com/
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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