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Railroad Injuries: Why Having an Experienced Attorney is so Important


an accident at work on the railway tracksRailroad injuries and deaths have been climbing in recent years, and no one is more at risk than people who work with and around railroads. In 2021, 3,216 railroad employees reported being injured or becoming ill because of the circumstance of their job. In fact, working on a railroad is one of the most dangerous jobs.

So what does all of this mean? It means that if you work on a railroad, it is vital to know your rights as an employee if you become ill or injured in relation to your nature of work and to have a railroad injury attorney on your side is a wise choice. 

Here are some of the things you need to know about what you should do if this happens to you and why having a FELA attorney is important. 

Railroad Worker’s Risks

If you are a railroad worker, you have a much higher risk of becoming either sick or injured than the average worker. Many railroad employees develop lung cancer due to repeated exposure to carcinogens on the job, including diesel fumes. In fact, working for a railroad is associated with a 1% – 2% risk of developing lung cancer that would become fatal.

But lung cancer is far from the only risk associated with working with trains. There are many other cancers and other fatal diseases that also pose a risk to railroad workers, which studies have shown to be related to handling and inhaling hazardous materials, including asbestos, diesel, and many other chemicals.

Although fatalities on the job are relatively rare, injuries can and do happen. In fact, railroad injuries in a given year happen to workers on the job ranging from falls to crashes, electrocutions, and other incidents. All the abovementioned risks mean that, as a railroad worker, your chances of having serious physical consequences from your workplace are significant.

Railroad Worker Safety

So with all this in mind, what are your rights as a railroad worker if you do become ill or injured as a result of your job? The good news is that railroad workers have had legal protections longer than most other labor groups in the United States, partly because of how long the industry has been around. 

For instance, the Federal Railroad Safety Act gives workers the right to report dangerous workplace conditions or refuse to work in these conditions without facing the consequences. It also stipulates that workers have the right to follow their doctors’ orders even if it means being unable to do certain workplace tasks.

The Federal Employers’ Liability Act, commonly abbreviated as FELA, is another important law protecting the rights of railroad workers who have been injured on the job. Under FELA, railroad workers are exempt from laws keeping employees from suing their employers due to hazardous work conditions. 

It stipulates that workers can opt to open a lawsuit in either state or federal courts and that they must only show proof that they were injured due to workplace negligence. It also involves more strenuous consequences for employers who violate health and safety standards. FELA case settlements may provide injured workers compensation for their loss of wages, medical costs, emotional toll, physical therapy fees, and other factors.

Having an Experienced Rail Injury Attorney Is Important

Having the right attorney makes all the difference when it comes to making a claim from the employer for workplace negligence in the railroad industry. Laws relating to the unique risks faced by railroad workers and the rights they have are not widely known. For this reason, it is vital that you hire a railroad injury attorney in FELA law who knows exactly how to help you get the compensation you deserve for your workplace injury.

Cahill & Perry, P.C. have the best FELA attorneys you need for your case. Our firm has served railroad workers in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Jersey for over 40 years. Our clients have received millions of dollars in railroad injuries settlement amounts to compensate for their emotional pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. 

If you are in need of the best railroad injury attorneys, Cahill & Perry, P.C. can help you understand your rights and get the compensation that you deserve. To get started, contact us for a confidential consultation today. 

  • $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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