Common Causes of Metra Accidents

Metra trains carry commuters throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, connecting downtown Chicago with communities across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. For many residents, Metra provides an essential way to travel to work, school, medical appointments, and other destinations. Although commuter rail is an important part of the region’s transportation system, accidents involving trains, passengers, pedestrians, and motor vehicles can cause catastrophic injuries and fatalities.

Train accidents can occur at railroad crossings, on station platforms, aboard moving trains, or along railroad tracks. Some incidents result from driver negligence or pedestrian conduct, while others may involve unsafe conditions, mechanical problems, inadequate warnings, or failures in railroad operations. Determining the cause of a crash is essential when investigating whether an injured person or a surviving family may have grounds for a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

According to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), Illinois recorded 134 collisions between trains and motor vehicles or pedestrians at highway-rail crossings in 2025, resulting in 34 deaths and 27 serious injuries. Illinois has approximately 7,300 miles of railroad track and thousands of public and private crossings. The ICC also reports that the six-county Chicago region accounts for approximately 73% of Illinois’ exposure to train-vehicle collision risk, based on train frequency and roadway traffic.

At John J. Malm & Associates, our Chicago injury lawyers recognize the devastating consequences that railroad accidents can have on injured people and their families. Understanding the common causes of Metra accidents can help passengers, pedestrians, motorists, and families recognize potential safety failures and understand when legal investigation may be appropriate.

1. Motorists Ignoring Railroad Crossing Signals

One of the most common causes of train-related collisions is a motorist’s failure to obey railroad crossing warnings. Railroad crossings may be equipped with flashing lights, bells, gates, pavement markings, and advance warning signs. These devices are designed to alert drivers that a train is approaching or occupying the crossing. A driver who ignores a warning signal, drives around a lowered gate, or attempts to cross before a train arrives can create an extremely dangerous situation. Because trains require substantial distances to stop, an engineer may be unable to prevent a collision even after applying the emergency brakes.

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) identifies highway-rail grade crossing incidents as the second-leading cause of rail-related deaths in the United States. Nationally, more than 2,000 crossing incidents and over 200 fatalities occur in a typical year.  Examples of dangerous driver behavior include:

• Driving around a lowered crossing gate.
• Accelerating to beat an approaching train.
• Ignoring flashing lights or audible warnings.
• Following another vehicle onto tracks without sufficient space to clear them.
• Stopping on the tracks because of traffic congestion.
• Entering a crossing without checking that it is safe to proceed.

When a collision occurs, investigators may examine the crossing’s warning systems, the driver’s actions, witness statements, available video footage, and the timing of the train’s approach. A driver who violates crossing signals may be responsible for resulting injuries, although liability depends on the facts of the incident.

2. Pedestrians Walking on or Crossing Railroad Tracks

Pedestrian accidents are another major concern around commuter rail systems. People may attempt to cross tracks outside designated crossings, walk along railroad rights-of-way, or take shortcuts between neighborhoods and stations.

These actions can be fatal because trains are large, quiet relative to their size, and unable to maneuver around people on the tracks. A pedestrian may misjudge a train’s speed or distance, assume there is enough time to cross, or fail to recognize that a second train is approaching.

The FRA identifies trespassing on railroad property as the leading cause of rail-related deaths nationally. It reports that more than 400 trespass fatalities occur each year in the United States. Potentially dangerous pedestrian behaviors include:

• Crossing tracks where no authorized crossing exists.
• Walking along the tracks to reach a station or nearby destination.
• Entering a restricted railroad right-of-way.
• Attempting to cross after a train has passed without checking for another train.
• Walking while distracted by a phone or headphones.

Railroad property is dangerous even when no train is immediately visible. However, not every pedestrian injury near a train is necessarily the pedestrian’s fault. An investigation may need to examine the adequacy of fencing, pedestrian access routes, crossing design, lighting, and warnings, along with the specific circumstances of the incident.

3. Driver Distraction and Inattention

Distraction can contribute to accidents involving motorists approaching Metra crossings, as well as people walking through stations or boarding trains. A driver who is looking at a phone, adjusting a navigation system, or interacting with passengers may fail to notice crossing signals or an approaching train.

The danger is particularly serious at crossings where road traffic is heavy or where drivers have become accustomed to passing through without encountering a train. Familiarity can create a false sense of security, leading a motorist to pay less attention to warning devices.

Metra’s railroad safety education materials identify distractions, including cell phones and radios, as factors that can divert drivers’ attention from approaching trains and crossing warnings. The materials also identify misjudging a train’s speed and distance as a common cause of crossing collisions.  A driver does not have to intend to cause a crash to be negligent. Failing to maintain a proper lookout or obey a warning signal may constitute negligence when it results in injury, depending on the circumstances.

4. Misjudging a Train’s Speed or Distance

Trains can be difficult to judge accurately because their size and movement may create a misleading impression of how quickly they are approaching. A motorist may see a train in the distance and believe there is enough time to cross, even when the train is traveling too quickly for the driver to safely proceed. A driver may also underestimate the distance required for a train to stop. Unlike passenger cars, trains cannot swerve around obstacles, and their braking distance can be substantial.

According to Metra’s driver education materials, common crossing hazards include drivers who misjudge train speed and distance, race trains to crossings, or proceed after one train passes without checking for another train on an adjacent track.

These risks are especially important at crossings with multiple tracks. A driver who sees one train clear the crossing may accelerate forward without realizing that another train is approaching from the opposite direction. When a collision occurs, investigators may examine sightlines, warning devices, roadway design, train speed, and the driver’s opportunity to perceive the hazard and stop safely.

5. Train Operator Errors and Signal Violations

Although many rail-crossing crashes involve motorists or pedestrians, accidents can also occur because of errors in train operation. Railroad engineers and conductors must follow operating rules, monitor signals, observe speed restrictions, and communicate effectively to keep trains moving safely.

A failure to obey a signal or operate at a safe speed can have devastating consequences. A notable example occurred on October 12, 2003, when Metra Train 519 derailed near 48th Street in Chicago while traversing a track crossover. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that the engineer’s loss of situational awareness and failure to comply with signal indications caused the derailment. The train was traveling approximately 68 mph where the authorized speed was 10 mph, and 47 passengers were transported to hospitals. This historical accident illustrates how a failure to follow operating signals and speed restrictions can result in serious passenger injuries.

Potential operational errors include:

• Failing to observe or obey a stop signal.
• Exceeding a speed restriction.
• Failing to follow dispatch instructions.
• Miscommunication between crew members.
• Inadequate attention to changing track conditions.
• Failure to comply with established safety procedures.

Investigators may examine signal records, dispatch communications, event-recorder data, crew training, operating procedures, and maintenance records to determine whether an operational failure contributed to a crash.

6. Mechanical Failures and Inadequate Track Maintenance

Metra trains depend on complex systems of brakes, wheels, axles, couplers, switches, signals, and track infrastructure. A mechanical failure or infrastructure defect can increase the risk of a derailment, collision, or other dangerous event.

Potential problems include worn or damaged rails, defective track switches, malfunctioning signals, brake failures, wheel defects, and inadequate inspection or repair practices. Poorly maintained platforms, stairways, and station walkways can also contribute to passenger injuries even when a train does not derail.

Maintenance-related incidents require careful investigation. A broken component does not automatically establish negligence; investigators must determine why the failure occurred, whether required inspections were performed, and whether a responsible party knew or should have known of the hazard. Evidence may include:

• Track inspection and maintenance logs.
• Locomotive and railcar maintenance records.
• Signal-system inspection reports.
• Prior complaints about recurring equipment problems.
• Internal safety reports and repair histories.
• Expert evaluations of the failed component or infrastructure.

Depending on the circumstances, responsibility may involve a railroad operator, an infrastructure owner, a maintenance contractor, or another party.

7. Slips, Trips, and Falls at Metra Stations and on Trains

Not every Metra-related injury involves a train striking a vehicle or pedestrian. Passengers may be injured while boarding or exiting a train, walking along a platform, climbing station stairs, or moving through a crowded train car. Common hazards include wet floors, snow and ice, uneven pavement, broken stairs, poor lighting, damaged platform edges, and gaps between the platform and train. Sudden train movements or abrupt stops may also cause passengers to lose their balance, particularly when they are standing or carrying bags.

Winter weather presents a particular concern in the Chicago area. Snow, freezing rain, and melting ice can make station entrances, platforms, parking lots, and pedestrian approaches slippery. A fall does not automatically establish legal liability. A claim may depend on whether the responsible party created the dangerous condition, knew or should have known about it, failed to take reasonable corrective action, or otherwise breached an applicable duty.

After a station or train fall, an injured passenger should seek medical attention, report the incident, photograph the hazard if safe, and obtain contact information for witnesses. Prompt documentation may be important because cleaning crews can remove hazards and video recordings may be overwritten.

8. Train Doors, Boarding Accidents, and Sudden Stops

Passenger injuries can occur when someone boards or exits a train, becomes caught in a closing door, or falls because of a sudden movement. Crowded platforms and hurried boarding can increase the risk, particularly when passengers attempt to enter as doors are closing. Possible contributing factors include:

• Doors closing before a passenger has safely cleared the entrance.
• Unsafe boarding or exiting procedures.
• Failure to provide appropriate warnings.
• Sudden acceleration or braking.
• Defective doors, handrails, or other passenger equipment.
• Inadequate assistance for passengers with mobility limitations.

The specific facts matter. Investigators may need to review surveillance footage, train operating data, maintenance records, employee reports, and witness accounts to determine how the incident occurred.

Passengers should avoid boarding a moving train, forcing doors open, or attempting to retrieve belongings after doors begin closing. When an injury occurs, however, the investigation should not end with an assumption that the passenger was responsible. Equipment condition and operational procedures may also need to be examined.

9. Poor Visibility, Weather, and Unsafe Crossing Conditions

Weather and visibility can contribute to railroad accidents, particularly at highway-rail crossings. Fog, heavy rain, snow, and nighttime darkness may make it harder for motorists to recognize a crossing or see a train approaching. Snowbanks, vegetation, parked vehicles, and other obstructions may also interfere with sightlines.

Illinois’ railroad safety data show that the state recorded 18 fatalities in highway-rail crossing collisions in 2024, followed by 34 fatalities in 2025. These figures cover the state’s railroad crossings generally, rather than Metra alone, and year-to-year changes do not by themselves establish a trend in safety performance. Potential issues for investigators include:

• Whether crossing warning devices were functioning properly.
• Whether signs and signals were visible.
• Whether vegetation or other obstructions impaired sightlines.
• Whether lighting was adequate for the location.
• Whether the roadway or crossing design contributed to confusion or danger.
• Whether a responsible party failed to address a known hazard.

Weather does not automatically excuse negligence. The relevant question is whether the parties involved acted reasonably under the conditions and whether a preventable safety failure contributed to the accident.

Who May Be Liable for a Metra Accident?

Liability depends on the type of accident, the evidence, and the legal duties of each party. Potentially responsible parties may include a negligent motorist, a railroad operator, a property owner, a maintenance contractor, or a manufacturer of defective equipment. An investigation may examine:

• Police reports and railroad incident reports.
• Witness statements and surveillance footage.
• Train event-recorder and signal-system data.
• Inspection and maintenance records.
• Medical records and documentation of financial losses.
• Applicable railroad safety regulations and operating procedures.

Claims involving railroads and public entities can present additional procedural challenges, including special notice requirements, deadlines, and questions about which entity controlled the tracks, crossing, or station property. An attorney can help identify the potentially responsible parties and determine which legal rules apply.

Frequently Asked Questions About Metra Accidents

What should I do if I am injured in a Metra accident?

Get to safety if possible, call 911 when necessary, and seek prompt medical care. Report the incident to Metra personnel or police, obtain witness information, and preserve photographs, medical records, and other evidence. Do not delay treatment to collect evidence.

Can I sue Metra if I am injured on a train?

Possibly. A claim may be available if negligence by Metra or another responsible party caused the injury. The outcome depends on the facts, applicable law, and available evidence. Not every accident establishes legal liability.

What if a motorist caused a collision with a Metra train?

The motorist may be liable if negligent conduct caused the collision and resulting injuries. Other parties may also warrant investigation if defective warning devices, unsafe crossing conditions, or other failures contributed to the incident.

Can family members bring a wrongful death claim after a fatal Metra accident?

Potentially. Illinois’ Wrongful Death Act allows qualifying claims when a person’s death is caused by another party’s wrongful act, neglect, or default. Eligibility, damages, and filing requirements depend on the circumstances. An attorney can explain the rights of surviving family members.

Contact the Top Chicago Injury Attorneys at John J. Malm & Associates After a Metra Accident

A serious Metra accident can leave injured passengers, pedestrians, and motorists facing extensive medical treatment, lost income, long-term disability, and uncertainty about their legal rights. Determining what caused the accident may require a detailed investigation of railroad operations, crossing signals, track maintenance, station conditions, employee conduct, and other evidence that may not be readily available to an injured person.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Metra accident in Chicago or the surrounding Illinois communities, contact John J. Malm & Associates to discuss your situation. Our Chicago train accident attorneys can evaluate the circumstances, investigate potential negligence, identify responsible parties, and pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other recoverable damages. If a family member died in a railroad accident, we can also discuss potential wrongful death claims. Do not assume that an accident was unavoidable or that the railroad’s explanation tells the whole story. Contact our firm to discuss your legal options and learn how we may be able to help.