(Photo credit: linder6580/SXC)
There was an unfortunate train accident in the town of Gainford, Alta., about 80 kilometres west of Edmonton, that forced about 100 people to evacuate their homes in mid-October.
A Canadian National Railway Co. train travelling with petroleum gas caught fire and caused two massive explosions after 13 of the train’s cars went off the tracks. The fire was severe enough that firefighters had to back off to let it burn out by itself. Luckily, nobody was injured. This is the third serious Canadian derailment case involving hazardous materials this fall.
An unfortunately, well known train accident is the Lac Megantic disaster on July 8. A Montreal Maine and Atlantic Railway train carrying 8.1 million litres of crude oil derailed and crashed. The tragedy killed 47 people and left the Quebec town reeling.
The town is still cleaning up five million litres of oil after the disaster and it isn’t expected to be complete until February 2014. Oil trickled into the town’s water and soil and seeped into the city’s building frameworks. A good portion of downtown was destroyed and buildings are being examined for structural integrity. While the total repair costs aren’t known yet, they are estimated to be $14.5 million.
Since the disaster, Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said that the Canadian federal government has invested $100 million in rail safety, as well as introduced tougher fines for companies who violate safety regulations.
Freight trains undergo inspections for: cars leaning to one side or positioned improperly on tracks, objects dragging below the car body, insecurely attached doors, broken or missing safety appliances, overheated or broken wheels, hand brakes failing to release and other safety hazards.
In Ontario alone, there are nearly 19,000 kilometres of railway track weaving throughout the province’s cities and small towns. The recent derailments have left some devastating marks on those who live near the crash sites.
Train derailments and the personal damages they leave is a part of personal injury law. At Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers, we have over 40 years of experience in handling all types of accidents. We know the impacts injuries have on your life and your family’s and we know how to help you. Call us at 416-920-4242. Set up a free consultation and come talk with us.
Greg Neinstein
Latest posts by Greg Neinstein (see all)
- Do I have a personal injury case? - April 23, 2019
- Are your insurance premiums high? Check your postal code - April 17, 2019
- This was an unusually harsh winter for slip-and-falls - April 11, 2019