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Common Railroad Injuries and How an Attorney Can Help


work accident on the railway tracksInjuries from working on the railroad are very common. Railroad injuries also tend to be more severe than other workplace accidents.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employees of railroads are twice as likely to be killed on the job as any other American worker because of the severity of railroad injuries.

The important role that railroads and their employees play in the American economy, Congress has set up a special workers’ compensation program — the Federal Employers Liability Act, to cover railroad workplace injuries. If you have been injured while working for a railroad company, you should not settle any claim until you consult with a railroad accident attorney.

Common Railroad Injuries

Many types of injuries can happen around railroads and railroad equipment.

Crushing Injuries

Heavy equipment moves fast in rail yards, and many workers are crushed between or underneath moving rail cars or locomotives.

Run Over by Train

Railroad workers must work near and with locomotives and cars. Trains often back up and start forward in railroad yards as they couple and uncouple cars, drop off cars for delivery or pick up cars to carry loads away. Every year, many injury cases arise from railroad workers being struck by the trains they are working with.

Electrocution

Many locomotives are powered by electricity, either overhead or through the rails themselves. Workers can be electrocuted, burned, or even killed by the powerful voltage used by railroad electrical systems.

Back and Neck Injuries

Railroad work requires a lot of lifting and heavy work. Heavy repetitive work can easily lead to back and neck strain over a long period. Many claims on behalf of injured workers involve railroad back injury settlements.

Hazardous Material Injuries

Railroads ship many dangerous chemicals, and leaks and spills happen, whether by accident in shipping or serious derailments. Railroads also use many dangerous chemicals, and long-term exposure can lead to cancers or other slow-developing injuries.

Shoulder and Knee Injuries

In addition to neck injuries, shoulders and knees can easily be injured by the heavy work found in railway yards. Shoulder and knee joints are surprisingly delicate, and injuries to either are very difficult to recover from. The result is often permanent disability, which must be compensated by the employer. Cahill & Perry P.C. handles many railroad shoulder injury settlements.

Disfiguring Injuries and Amputations

Train accident injuries tend to be more severe than other types of workplace injuries. Because of the heavy equipment involved, any accident is more likely to lead to disfigurement. If injuries to a limb are too severe, it must be amputated.

Debris and Construction Injuries

Work on the railroad right of way can lead to injuries from rocks or debris thrown or kicked up by passing trains or construction equipment. Tools and construction debris can also fall on workers.

Head Injuries

Many railroad workers are struck by falling objects. Cargo can fall while being loaded or unloaded. Tools can be dropped from a height. Too often, railroad workers suffer serious head trauma from workplace accidents.

Making a Claim for Common Railroad Injuries

FELA is designed specifically to provide workers’ compensation protection for railroad workers. Besides covering injured workers, FELA covers the workplace conditions of railroads and protects workers by mandating a safer working environment.

As with other types of workplace injury claims, such as workers’ compensation, the first step in making a FELA claim is to file an accident report with your employer. Your report will explain the circumstances surrounding the accident and the injuries you suffered.

In preparing your report, you should consult with an experienced railroad accident attorney. They can guide you on how to present the facts surrounding your injury.

At Cahill & Perry P.C., we routinely handle railroad workplace injuries and their claims under FELA.

We can consult with you about your injury and investigate your claim. If necessary, we can find experts to assist in developing the medical and workplace facts surrounding your injury. We can negotiate with the railroad and insurance carrier, and if necessary, we can represent your position in court zealously and effectively.

If you or a family member have been injured in a railroad workplace accident, contact us today for a consultation with an experienced railroad accident attorney.

  • $10.8 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Conductor wrongful death case. (Avery v. Metro-North RR).
  • $8 Million settlement for an Amtrak Trackman who sustained a crushed leg. (Cevasco v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.).
  • $7 Million settlement for a Metro-North Foreman whose legs were amputated. (Renert v. Metro-North RR).
  • $5.8 Million settlement for an Amtrak Conductor who sustained a head injury. (Fitzpatrick v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.).
  • $5.5 Million settlement for a Metro-North Machinist wrongful death case. (Pieger v. Metro-North RR).
  • $4.3 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Conductor wrongful death case. (Ard v. Metro-North RR)
  • $2.57 Million Verdict for an Amtrak Conductor who sustained a back injury. (Pace v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.).
  • $2.5 Million Settlement for a Metro-North employee who sustained a serious head injury.
  • Settled for a Confidential Sum for a Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company Trackman wrongful death case. (Macaulay v. Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company.)
  • $6.250 Million Verdict in 2023 which was later reduced to $2.1 Million for a Metro-North Structural Welder/Ironworker who sustained head and neck injuries and has returned to work. (Torres v. Metro-North RR).
  • $2 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Lineman who sustained an electrical burn (Curly v. Metro-North RR).
  • $2 Million Settlement in 2020 for a Providence & Worcester Railroad Company Conductor who sustained a serious head injury and returned to work for another RR as an Engineer. (Scarpa v. Providence & Worcester Railroad Company.)
  • $2 Million Settlement for a Metro-North Conductor who sustained a fractured leg.
    Settled for a Confidential Sum in 2019 an Amtrak Lineman involving an electrocution causing a permanent occupational disability. (Anderson v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.).
  • $1.85 Million Verdict for an Amtrak Ticket Agent who was assaulted. (Schneider v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.)
  • Compensatory and punitive damages Verdicts and subsequently settled for $1.8 Million in 2023 for a Metro-North
  • Conductor who suffered Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. (Moran v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority).
  • $1.69 Million Settlement for an Amtrak Supervisor who was shot by an employee. (Cornelius v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.)
  • $1.65 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Lineman who sustained foot and ankle injuries. (Keating v. Metro-North RR).
  • $1.65 Million Verdict for a Metro-North TA Employee who sustained an Open Tibia Fracture to his left leg. (Rivera v. Metro-North RR).
  • $1.54 Million Verdict for an Amtrak General Foreman who sustained a herniated disc in his lower back. (Brady v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation).
  • $1.45 Million Verdict for a Construction Worker who sustained a left hip injury. (Quintiliani v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation).
  • $1.42 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Machinist who sustained a fractured rib and a herniated disc. (Hall v. Metro-North RR).
  • $1.4 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Mechanical Gang Foreman who sustained burns from an explosion of steam on an engine. (Berry v. Metro-North RR).
  • $1.4 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Carpenter Foreman who sustained a back injury. (Kendall v. Metro-North RR).
  • $1.3 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Signal Trainee Maintainer who sustained a back injury from a slip and fall. (Moran v. Metro-North RR).
  • $1.2 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Signal Maintainer who sustained a back injury and post-concussion syndrome. (Manes v. Metro-North RR).
  • $1.2 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Trackman who sustained crushed legs. (Murillo v. Metro-North RR).
  • $1 Million Settlement for a Metro-North Trackman who sustained burns from pot welding and subsequently returned to work. (Burke v. Metro-North RR).

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If you are a railroad worker who has been injured on the job, you need a lawyer who understands the complicated FELA claims process. Find out how we can help you receive the compensation you deserve.

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