Representative Cases

The personal injury trial lawyers of Langdon & Emison have extensive experience in the know the catastrophic results when a train collides with a car or truck at a railroad crossing.  Today's modern trains are larger and more powerful than any other land-based transportation ever built.  Track conditions and safety equipment at thousands of crossings, however, were built for the trains of several generations ago.  Yet freight trains continue to be a low-cost, favored method for transporting cargo across the country.  These factors contribute to the persistence of railroad crossing accidents, which continue to occur with alarming frequency and tragic consequences.

Through the pursuit of civil lawsuits, Langdon & Emison seek to hold the railroads accountable for the safety of the public at railroad crossings.  By obtaining favorable settlements or jury verdicts, we attain compensation for accident victims and hopefully shape policy that will make our roadways and railways safer for future generations.

Case - Lewis v. Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad
Synopsis - Tearcyn Lewis was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Phillip Webb near Chillicothe, Missouri.  The vehicle was struck on the passenger side, where Lewis was sitting, by an IC&E locomotive at a railroad crossing equipped only with a cross buck sign and no warning lights or gates.  Tearcyn was killed when the train struck the vehicle on her side. 
Result - $3.25 million settlement

Case - Baker-Valdez v. Union Railroad
Synopsis - Christal Baker and children, six-year olds Autumn and Tiana Valdez and 10-year old Adam Valdez were traveling in a pickup truck near Wooldridge, Missouri.  Their vehicle was struck by a Union Pacific locomotive while crossing the tracks at a railroad crossing on Klein Road.  The crossing was equipped only with a cross buck sign and did not have any warning lights or crossing gate.  All of the occupants suffered severe injuries, and Autumn Valdez died at the hospital shortly after arriving. 
Result - Confidential Settlement

Langdon & Emison currently have several cases pending in Missouri courts, where fatal accidents were allegedly caused by the failure of the railroad companies to provide adequate warnings and guards at the crossings and to properly maintain the crossings.

Case - Haley v. Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad
Synopsis - On July 11, 2003, Jacob Haley (driver) and James Haley (passenger) were traveling in a 1999 Ford pickup on Route A in Braymer, Missouri.  An Iowa, Chicago & Eastern train struck the right-front portion of the pickup, and the truck was thrown into a ditch near the crossing.  James Haley was killed by this collision. 
Result - Currently pending in Missouri

Case - Hodge v. Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Co.
Synopsis - This case arose out of a collision between a Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company train and a vehicle driven by Donald Hodge in Buchanan County, Missouri.  Defendant BNSF was in charge of maintaining the railroad tracks and crossing at the location of the collision.  Donald Hodge was killed in this train crash.
Result - Currently pending in Missouri

Case - Westlake v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co.
Synopsis - Crystal Pope was a passenger in a 1995 Chevy Corsica driven by David Pope in Audrain County, Missouri.  The Pope vehicle was struck by a Norfolk Southern train as the Popes traversed the railroad crossing.  Both David and Crystal Pope were killed in this railroad accident.
Result - Currently pending in Missouri

Case - Williams v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co.
Synopsis - Tabitha Williams was riding in a vehicle driven by Florence Williams in Audrain County, Missouri.  The Williams vehicle was struck by a Norfolk Southern train as the vehicle crossed the railroad tracks.  Both Florence and Tabitha Williams were killed in this railroad collision.
Result - Currently pending in Missouri

Our attorneys will continue to relentlessly pursue the railroad companies when their negligence or reckless conduct causes serious injury or death to innocent, unsuspecting drivers.  If you or a family member has been injured or killed in a collision at a railroad crossing, contact Langdon & Emison by e-mail, or call us at (800) 397-4910 for a free consultation.