The Amtrak train crash in Nevada on June 24, 2011 generated a lot of national attention.  This was the railroad crash where six people were killed and many more seriously injured when a  semi tractor-trailer going over 70 mph slammed into an Amtrak train going close to 80  mph in an open stretch of desert just east of Reno obliterating several cars of the train and causing them to burst into flames.  

The railroad accident attorneys at Peter Higgins Law are representing two Amtrak crew members who were victims of this crash who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) months after the debris has cleared.  PTSD is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to an event that results in psychological trauma.  This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else.  Symptoms include re-living the original trauma through flashbacks or nightmares, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, difficulty sleeping, anger and inability to cope.

Lots of questions come up when a railroad accident of this magnitude happens.

How did the truck driver fail to see the gates and flashers come down 10 seconds before the train passed the crossing?  Why did Amtrak lock certain doors between train cars, preventing some passengers and crew members from getting off the train safely and unscathed?  How long will people reel from the effects of the crash? Obtaining answers to these questions and helping those who are suffering is what our representation is all about. If you’re experiencing similar effects, contact our Chicago law firm to talk to one of our lawyers today.