Accidents involving pedestrians and trains are on the rise, according to preliminary data from the Federal Railroad Administration. FRA statistics show that 950 people trespassed on railroad property in 2015. Of them, 500 incidents resulted in death.

"Nearly all of these deaths and injuries are preventable," said Libby Rector Snipe, spokesperson for Operation Lifesaver, Inc., a non-profit program formed in 1972 specializing in railroad safety education.

Among the factors contributing to the rise are an increased amount of train traffic in many parts of the country; inconsistencies in the amount of time that it takes railroad crossing arms to fully deploy when a train is coming; technology that makes trains ever quieter; and ever-increasing distraction on the part of pedestrians, including wearing headphones and looking at smartphones while walking.

If you regularly walk in an area that has a railroad track or crossing, understand that you hold much of the responsibility for keeping yourself safe. Follow all the same safety signals that you would if driving a car, including stopping when you see a railroad gate beginning to deploy or see the flashing red lights. If a train is coming, keep a sizeable distance from the track, as trains and their cargo can hang over the rails upward of three feet or more on either side.

Most importantly, understand that it can take a train a mile to reach a complete stop, so an engineer seeing you on the tracks won't help at all. Also, know that trespassing on railroad property can bring legal charges, fines or even a jail stay.

If you are a pedestrian, passenger or employee hurt by negligence on the part of a railway worker or company, contact Jacksonville's Rail Justice at 888-519-RAIL to speak with an experience railway injury lawyer.