Families who lose a loved one because of another party’s negligence often have to fight for answers. Unfortunately, wrongful death lawsuits are necessary in many of these cases if families want see justice fully served. We started this blog to discuss issues that relate to personal injury and wrongful death laws in Illinois.
Two Chicago-area sons are still waiting for answers after a train derailment took their parents’ lives on Independence Day last year. A 138-car Union Pacific freight train was traveling through Northbrook just as the now-deceased husband and wife were passing beneath a train bridge in their car. What happened next was undoubtedly harrowing and fatal.
According to documents provided by Union Pacific, an employee noted problems with the train tracks just before the accident. The employee wrote that the railroad ties appeared to be moving, and then the employee requested that a track inspector report to the area to investigate.
Unfortunately, that inspector showed up after the damage was done. The husband and wife were crushed by rubble as the train derailed and caused the bridge to collapse. The victims’ bodies were found the next day.
Today trains still pass over the tracks, however, and the victims’ sons are still waiting to hear the outcome their wrongful death claim against Union Pacific. The lawsuit is held up by appeals.
Meanwhile, the sons say they know of no report or investigation by federal officials.
Family members should be aware of their legal options to seek justice in civil court after an injurious or fatal accident that was caused by another party’s reckless or negligent behavior. Nothing in the world can bring back a lost loved one, but it is possible for grieving families to achieve some measure of solace through legal recourse.
Source: nbcchicago.com, “Sons Say Feds Stalling Probe of Fatal Train Derailment,” Christian Farr, July 3, 2013
