$155K Settlement in Death of Car Passenger Killed in Crash with Train

By Dean I. Weitzman, Esq. on March 20th, 2015

The estate of an 81-year-old grandmother who died when the car she was riding in was struck by a train almost four years ago in Orangeburg, S.C., will receive a $155,000 combined settlement from the Norfolk Southern railroad and the state Department of Transportation.

The settlement was reached in the May 13, 2011, crash that killed Susan Weatherford while she was being driven in a car by her grandson, Jeremy Weatherford, not far from his home, according to a March 16 report by WIS-TV Channel 10 of Columbia, S.C.

As Jeremy Weatherford drove the car toward his house, he turned a corner and then swerved to avoid a car that was stopped at a railroad crossing at Sellers Avenue, according to the report. “The near-miss sent Weatherford’s car onto the tracks,” where it’s wheels became stuck just before the vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by an approaching train, the story stated. The car was pushed some 80 yards down the train tracks before it came to a stop.

Susan Weatherford was ejected from the car during the collision, while her grandson was able to get out of the vehicle. Driver error was cited by police as the main cause of the crash, but no criminal charges were filed, the story reported.

“The lawsuit contended that both the railroad and the state knew the grade crossing was dangerous but took no action to correct the problem,” the story concluded.

Norfolk Southern is paying $95,000 under the terms of the settlement, while the South Carolina Department of Transportation is paying $60,000, the story reported.

These kinds of tragic legal cases occur every day when innocent victims are severely hurt or killed in vehicle crashes through no fault of their own due to the actions, inattentiveness or indifference of others. That’s why it is critical to have a legal team on your side that uncovers every fact to bolster your case and maximize your damage award.

We here at MyPhillyLawyer stand ready to assist you with your legal case if you or a loved one is ever seriously injured in a vehicle incident or accident anywhere in the United States. We represent the families of victims who die in such tragedies as well, to ensure that their families receive every penny of damages that they are eligible to receive.

Call MyPhillyLawyer at 215-227-2727 or toll-free at 1-(866) 352-4572 anytime and our experienced, compassionate, aggressive team of attorneys and support staff will be there for you and your family every step of the way as we manage your case through the legal system.

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