Despite years of calls for improved railroad safety, railroad workers still do their jobs in conditions that can be genuinely dangerous. Those conditions lead to serious injuries every year, and in the most tragic cases, to deaths. On-duty railroad workers continue to be killed on the job, and thousands more suffer reportable injuries annually. When the worst happens, a grieving […]
Filing a FELA Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Toxic Chemical Exposure on the Railroad
Railroads are hazardous places to work. Every day, employees face derailments, being struck by trains, poorly maintained equipment, and slip-and-fall injuries. Workers for major railroads like Union Pacific, CSX, and Norfolk Southern also face a quieter, slower danger: routine exposure to toxic chemicals and substances that can cause permanent harm to their health. Not long ago, asbestos was the chief […]
Cumulative Trauma FELA Claims: How We Evaluate Them
Not every railroad injury happens in a single moment. Years of repetitive, physically demanding work can wear down a worker’s body gradually, producing serious injuries to the back, shoulders, knees, and other joints long before any one incident. These are called cumulative trauma injuries, and they are covered under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act just as a sudden accident is. […]
Parkinson’s Disease and Railroad Work: The Hidden Chemical Link
Railroad workers face a considerably higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than the general population. This risk stems from decades of frequent exposure to chemicals linked to the disease, including welding fumes, chlorinated solvents, and herbicides. Like many occupational illnesses, Parkinson’s rarely appears until years after the exposure that caused it, which can make the connection easy to miss. A […]
Injured by a Defective Handbrake: What Railroad Workers Need to Know
Railroad workers who get hurt operating a handbrake often come to us with two questions. Does the FELA cover me? And do I still have a case if the railroad inspected the brake afterward and it worked fine? The United States Supreme Court and decades of legal precedent have settled these questions, and they favor injured workers more than most […]
Railroad Workers and Back Injuries
Back injuries are one of the most frequent injuries sustained by railway workers. Your back consists of a mass of bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that make it possible for you to lift heavy objects and bend over. Back injuries, such as strains, sprains, fractures, and herniated discs, can be caused by stretching, lifting, and over-extending your spine. While they […]
Defenses Commonly Used in FELA Liability Cases
Under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, a railroad must provide its workers a reasonably safe place to work. That duty includes supplying safe tools, machinery, and equipment, and following recognized safety protocols and safe work methods. That is the law. In practice, railroads often fall short, and when an injured worker files a claim, the carrier reaches for the same […]
What is the FELA Claims Process?
Railroad work is vital, and it is also among the most dangerous jobs in the country. Depending on your specific role and responsibilities, you may face the risk of serious injury, from deep lacerations to broken bones, on any given day. When that happens, the path to compensation isn’t the one most workers know. A FELA attorney can guide you […]
Which Railroad Jobs Are the Most Dangerous?
Anyone can be hurt on the railroad at any time. Whether you work as a track worker, a trainman, a clerk, or a shop worker, railroads are dangerous places, and injuries are common. In almost any other industry, a hurt worker turns to a state workers’ compensation program that covers medical bills and part of their lost income. Railroad workers […]
The Hidden Hazards of Toxic Exposure on Railway Workers
Since the 1930s, major railroad companies across the United States have periodically come under scrutiny for the toxic hazards found in and around storage facilities, rail yards, and the other buildings railroads rely on. The problem is that railroad workers are often unaware of the diseases and dangers they face while doing their jobs. A hazard that causes no immediate […]