DART and public transit
Written notice is generally due within six months, but the entity and claim can affect requirements. TRE is publicly owned, so government rules may apply.
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Dallas train accident Lawyer
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Discuss your train accident case directly with Nolan. Review the evidence, coverage and next steps.
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Discuss your rail injury. Share a few details below.
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Contacting the firm does not create an attorney–client relationship. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Discuss your rail injury
Injured in a train incident?
Get help finding the relevant claim path.
A rail injury may involve a crossing, a passenger journey or work on the railroad. Nolan can discuss your role and the incident so the conversation focuses on the right questions, rather than expecting you to interpret technical rail records first.
- Distinguish passenger, crossing and railroad-work issues so important differences are not hidden in one general explanation.
- Connect the technical records to the sequence being disputed, with attention to the injuries and losses involved.
Nolan Ryan McConvilleManaging attorney · Licensed in Texas since 2016
Firmwide: 99% win rate.
Firmwide: 99% win rate.
Dallas train accident cases
Dallas train accidents: DART rail, TRE and freight crossings
Nolan Ryan McConvilleManaging attorney · Licensed in Texas since 2016Trains can't swerve, and they need a long distance to stop. When a train hits a car or a person, or a passenger is hurt on board, the injuries are usually serious and the investigation is technical.
Nolan Ryan handles train accident cases across Dallas County, from DART light rail and the Trinity Railway Express to Union Pacific and BNSF freight lines. Each type of train comes with different rules, and Nolan works out which ones apply to your case from the start.
- Free consultation
- No fee unless we recover
- Work directly with Nolan
Identify the rail operator, evidence and appropriate claim route.
About Nolan Ryan McConville, Texas attorney since 2016 · Updated October 2026
Nolan Ryan McConville
Managing attorney
- Licensed in Texas since 2016
- J.D. cum laude, Texas Tech School of Law
- Member, Texas Trial Lawyers Association
Put the crossing sequence in order
For a crossing incident, make a short sequence from memory; do not return to the tracks to complete it.
Approaching
Note your direction, the crossing location and the first warning you remember noticing. Mark approximate times as approximate.
At the crossing
Describe the gate, lights, horn and vehicle movements in the order you recall them, without estimating technical timings.
Afterward
Separate what you observed after impact from what you saw before it. Identify any detail learned later from another person.
Which railroad
The trains that run through Dallas
DART light rail
DART's Red, Blue, Green and Orange lines run at street level in places, including through downtown. DART is governmental, so immunity and Texas Tort Claims Act requirements need early review.
Trinity Railway Express
The TRE commuter line connects Dallas and Fort Worth. It is publicly owned, so government claim rules may apply, and private contractors that run or maintain the line may also be involved.
Freight railroads
Union Pacific and BNSF move freight through Dallas County. They are private companies, and federal safety rules govern much of how they operate.
Grade crossings
Many serious crashes happen where tracks cross roads. Signals, gates, sight lines and horn use all come under scrutiny.
Train claim deadlines and public-transit limits
Private freight railroads
Injury lawsuits generally follow the two-year Texas deadline, with exceptions.
Covered railroad workers
FELA claims generally have a three-year filing deadline. Coverage depends on the employment and facts.
When immunity is waived under the Texas Tort Claims Act, DART's bodily-injury and death liability is generally capped at $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence.
Reporting an incident to transit staff or police does not necessarily satisfy formal claim-notice requirements. Ask about your deadline promptly.
Questions about a deadline? Call Nolan at (214) 706-4031
From day one
What Nolan checks first
Nolan works to secure the rail evidence and document the crossing before anything changes.
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01Review step
Preservation letters
He asks the railroad or transit agency for event recorder data, video, dispatch records, crossing signal records and maintenance logs.
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02Review step
Tort Claims Act notice
If DART or the TRE is involved, he prepares the written Tort Claims Act notice.
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03Review step
Reports and the crossing
He gets the crash report (CR-3) and any DART Police or railroad incident report, and documents the signals, signs and sight lines before anything changes.
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04Review step
Sources of recovery
He identifies every insurance policy and other source of recovery.
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05Review step
Medical records
He makes sure your medical care is fully documented from day one.
The sequence and timing depend on your case, engagement and the records available.
Crossing crashes
Grade crossings and federal rail safety rules
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulates railroad safety, including crossing warning systems, train horn use, track conditions and equipment.
Railroads send their own investigators quickly. You should have someone on your side looking at the same evidence.
Signals and gates
When a train hits a vehicle at a crossing, a key question is whether the signals and gates worked.
Blocked views
Brush or parked railcars may have blocked the view of the crossing.
Horn and crew response
It often matters whether the horn sounded and whether the crew reacted in time.
Recorders and cameras
Locomotives carry event recorders, and many have forward-facing cameras. That data is in the railroad's hands and can be lost or overwritten if no one asks for it.
Rail workers
Hurt working for a railroad? FELA, not workers' comp
If you work for a railroad and were hurt on the job, your claim is generally governed by the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), not Texas workers' compensation.
A negligence claim
FELA lets an injured railroad worker sue the railroad for negligence.
Not like a comp claim
FELA works very differently from a workers' comp claim.
Its own deadline
FELA has its own deadline to bring a claim.
Who gets hurt
Conductors, engineers, track workers and yard crews can be hurt by unsafe equipment, poor track conditions or short staffing. Nolan can explain how FELA may apply to you.
After a train crash
Steps that protect your claim
- Get medical care right away
- Note the crossing location, or the station and line
- From a safe public location, photograph the crossing, signals and anything blocking the view; never enter the tracks to gather evidence
- Get names of witnesses and other passengers
- Don't sign anything from the railroad or its investigators
- Ask about the applicable written-notice deadline immediately if DART or the TRE was involved
Related cases
Related practice areas
Bus accidents
Car accidents
Pedestrian accidents
Wrongful death
Free consultation
Talk to Nolan about your case
There is no cost to talk with Nolan, and no attorney's fee unless money is recovered.
Was this a passenger trip, crossing collision or railroad work injury? Share the operator and incident location if known; incomplete records are fine.
Ask which claim route needs review first and what information is missing to identify it. Explain whether the operator is confirmed or only a name someone mentioned; those are different starting points.
- Fee agreed in writing
- Phone, video or in person
- You talk directly with Nolan
Your written fee agreement also explains how case expenses are handled.
Your case, handled personally
5 reasons to choose Nolan Ryan
Identify the operator and your role
A transit passenger, person at a crossing and covered railroad worker may face different claims. Nolan starts with the operator and the incident circumstances.
Seek the rail records
Event data, dispatch information, video and signal maintenance records can answer different questions. Nolan requests relevant evidence from the railroad or transit agency involved.
Document the crossing conditions
Signals, signs and sight lines may matter in a crossing crash. Nolan considers those conditions alongside the crash report and available incident records.
Separate the notice questions
An incident report is not necessarily formal claim notice. Nolan reviews applicable notice requirements and the public transit issues relevant to the specific incident.
Connect evidence with recovery options
Nolan reviews potential insurance and other sources of recovery alongside the incident evidence and medical documentation, rather than assuming every rail claim follows one route.
Recent Victories
Proven Case Results
Case results are gross settlement amounts from past Nolan Ryan Law cases and depend on the facts of each case. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
$10 Million
Major 18 Wheeler Accident Settlement
$12 Million
Construction Accident and Wrongful Death Settlement
$1.5 Million
Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement
$1,150,000
Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement
Pre-suit Offer: $0
$775,000
Motor Vehicle Accident Settlement
$2,100,000
Motorcycle Accident Settlement
Pre-suit Offer: $0
Personal Injury Cases we handle
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s negligence, you need a team that acts fast and fights hard. Nolan Ryan Law has a strong record of securing significant settlements and verdicts for injured Texans.
We pursue the full compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing while we handle the fight.
Call Us Now
Talk with Nolan Ryan Law about the incident, the records available and your questions. The consultation is free. Fees and case expenses are explained in a written agreement.
- Start with what you know — incident details and report number, if available
- Discuss your questions — evidence, responsibility and possible coverage
- Understand the next steps — consultation and written agreement
- Meet by phone or video — Dallas office meetings by appointment
- Clear expectations — an inquiry does not create an attorney–client relationship
100% Free Case Evaluation
Share the city, what happened and your contact details for follow-up. Start with the information you have.
Testimonials
What Real clients say
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Who investigates a DART rail or TRE accident?
DART Police respond to incidents on the DART system. The Federal Railroad Administration oversees railroad safety, and the NTSB may investigate major rail accidents. Each agency's findings can become important evidence.
Are freight railroads treated like government defendants?
No. Union Pacific, BNSF and other freight railroads are private companies, so the Texas Tort Claims Act notice rules and damage caps do not apply to them. The general two-year Texas deadline usually does, with exceptions.
What if my car was hit at a railroad crossing?
Crossing cases often turn on the signals and gates, sight lines, vegetation, horn use and train speed. Texas drivers must stop when crossing signals are active, and the railroad will argue fault, so the crossing's maintenance and signal records matter.
I was hurt on a platform, not on the train. Do I have a claim?
Possibly. Injuries from crowding, gaps between the train and platform, or hazards in a station can lead to claims. When the platform belongs to a government transit agency, Texas law limits these premises claims, so the details need a close look early.
I work for a railroad and was injured on the job. What law applies?
Railroad workers are usually covered by the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), not state workers' compensation. FELA claims require showing the railroad was at least partly negligent, and they generally must be filed within three years.
What evidence matters in a train accident case?
Locomotive event recorders, crossing signal logs, train and platform video, dispatch records and maintenance files. Railroads control most of it, so preservation letters should go out quickly.
How long do I have after a train accident?
It depends on who you are claiming against. Claims involving DART generally require written notice within six months, subject to applicable notice and immunity rules. An incident report does not necessarily satisfy formal claim notice. Claims against a freight railroad generally must be filed within two years, and FELA claims by railroad workers within three.
What does hiring Nolan cost?
Nothing up front. Nolan works on a contingency fee, so his fee comes only from money recovered for you, and the written agreement spells out how case expenses work.