Trains are one of the most cost-effective and convenient ways to travel in the UK today, especially for those going cross-country. Privatisation of the railway service has seen the advent of faster, more comfortable trains, making rail travel increasingly desirable to many.

Everyday, almost half of the population travels on the public transport system to commute to various places. If the distance is not very far and within the expanse of the city, buses are preferred, otherwise trains are the best choice to travel long distances that link one city to another.

As nothing is certain, there are many times when accidents on public transport occur and the passengers are left to pay for the consequences through injuries and deteriorated health. Among all the modes of public transport, accidents involving trains are usually the most severe as accidents caused by them can result in serious injury or death.

Claim with us today
If you, or someone close to you, have been harmed in a train accident, then we may be able to help you make a claim today. We can deal with your case and have expert solicitors nationwide ready to act on your behalf.

The most common examples of public transport accidents include derailment, head on collisions and train crossing accidents. The main headings under which compensation can be made to the victim or the family is as follows:

• Pain and suffering
• Financial loss
• Emotional stress

Injuries
Accidents involving trains are becoming more and more frequent. As these accidents have now become an integral part of everyday life, they should not be taken lightly because it can prove to be highly dangerous and problematic.

There are several types of injuries that an individual can suffer including:

• Broken bones
• Fractures
• Head injuries
• Neck injuries and back injuries
• Whiplash

Tips for avoiding injuries
There are a few you things you can do to avoid the risk of sustaining passenger injuries in a train crash. It is always a good idea to be seated if a seat is available. This way, in the event of any collision or sudden breaking, you are less likely to be thrown around inside the train.

Keeping your personal belongings secure, just as you would when travelling by plane, is another good method to reduce your chances of suffering passenger injuries in a train crash. So storing bags under seats or in any specialised luggage compartments for the duration of your journey will help keep you and your fellow train passengers free from personal injury.

It's your right
So, if you or a loved one have faced such train accident injuries in which the mistake was that of the other party, you are entitled to claim for compensation on all of the losses and injuries suffered.

More common than you think...
Train accidents do not seem to be very common and we hear about severe ones only once or twice in a year. These collisions between a train and another vehicle may result in severe injuries and also significant damage to personal and public property. According to a recent study, although accidents related to trains rarely happened, there are more than a thousand fatalities caused by train accidents every year.

Causes of accidents
Trains are complicated machines which have to be operated by trained and qualified professionals. Then only the safety of people in and around the train can be ensured. However, if you have been injured by a train, you must understand that there may be several things which can go wrong while operating a train, resulting in fatal and serious accidents. Some of the factors that cause train accidents may include:

• Error on part of the conductor
• Improper maintenance or construction of the rail road
• Malfunction or mechanical defect in the train

Whatever the cause of the train accident, these accidents have the potential of causing significant injuries and damages to people as well as to properties.

What to do after an accident...

• Inform the driver or any other official such as an inspector of the accident as soon as possible. Make a note of the name and number of that person and ensure that they note your name, address and injuries.


• Keep your ticket - Although there is a high probability of CCTV on the vehicle, you may still need to establish that you were a passenger. You can do this by providing your ticket or receipt for that journey.


• Get medical advice for your injuries from a hospital or your GP. Keeping a diary of your pain and medication is recommended.


• Collect any names and addresses from witnesses who saw the accident take place.

Know your rights
The passengers on a train are entitled to claim compensation for any injuries suffered as a result of any collision that the train may have or indeed any derailment. You may even be entitled to claim if you become injured when the Train performs an unexpected manoeuvre such as overshooting the railway platform or, reversing in an unexpected and excessive manner.

Accident time limitation
The Train accident must have happened within the past three years in order to make a compensation claim. If you were under the age of 18 when the Train accident happened, the three year period starts on the date you turned 18 years old. If the three year limitation period has passed, you would not be able to make a compensation claim.