Amtrak filed a $2.5 million negligence lawsuit in New Orleans federal court stemming from an April collision with a tractor-trailer in Slidell. A report from the louisianarecord.com says Amtrak claims the tractor-trailer driver was negligent when he drove his vehicle onto the railroad tracks on April 20, 2011. Amtrak also named the driver’s employer and insurance company as defendants in the truck accident lawsuit.
The Amtrak train was traveling toward the Cleveland Avenue railroad crossing in Slidell. Despite the train sounding its horn, the tractor-trailer driver drove onto the tracks directly in front of the speeding train. According to the complaint, the defendant did not attempt to stop or slow down at the railroad crossing.
Amtrak accuses the defendants of failing to heed the railroad crossing signs, ignoring the train’s horn, bell and headlights, failing to lookout for approaching trains, driving onto the railroad tracks without stopping, driving at an unsafe speed and failing to yield the right of way to an approaching train.
Amtrak also accuses the driver’s employer of failing to ensure that its employees heed the warnings at a railroad crossing, and failing to ensure that its employees keep a reasonable lookout for approaching trains.
Harrell & Nowak, L.L.C. – New Orleans accident attorneys