The Dangers of Working for the Railroad

It should come as no surprise that working on the railroad is hard, and the job can be dangerous. Whenever you combine large machines, speed and fragile human bodies, bad things can happen. Fortunately, the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) offers protection to railroad employees who were injured on the job. If you were hurt while working for a railroad, you need to contact a railroad worker injury attorney to make sure you are adequately compensated for your injuries. Railroads have given many Americans a good, steady source of income for decades and helped develop the United States. However, the job can be fraught with dangers due to derailments of freight cars, failed brakes and the general labor of working a rail yard. Railroad employees frequently injure their backs while switch rolling heavy rail cars between tracks. A FELA claim lawyer can sort out the liability for you need to file a case against the railway to recover medical expenses and lost income caused by your injuries. FELA attorneys are well-versed in the law and the rights of the injured. Using a railroad injury attorney can significantly increase your settlement when compared to someone who accepts a lowball offer from an insurance company. Fatal Injuries The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that in the decade from 1993 to 2002, 1,221 railway workers were killed on the job. That figure includes workers from other industries who were working in a train yard and railway workers who ride the trains, such as conductors, engineers or brakemen. Fortunately, fewer workers are dying these days thanks to better safety precautions. The number of employee deaths per 100,000 employees was reduced from 15 in 1993 to 8 last year, which represents a significant reduction of nearly 50 percent. Most of the transportation injuries involved transportation accidents. Some 66 percent of railway fatalities occurred during transportation. Of the 320 overall deaths of railway workers last year, 138 were caused by railway mishaps. • 78 deaths occurred during railway accidents. • 31 deaths occurred during non-railway vehicle collisions. • 24 deaths occurred due to falls from, on or in railcars. The other 146 workers who perished were pedestrians who died after being struck by moving vehicles. If you are among those who are injured each year, contact a FELA injury lawyer to discuss your case. The lawyer can recommend the next step you should take. Construction workers who are laboring for the railroad on railroad-owned property also sustain their share of injuries. In fact, the majority of railroad workers killed on the job died as a result of normal construction-related accidents, including the following. • Being struck by construction or civilian vehicles on-site • Falls • Drowning after falling into water • Being struck by heavy objects that have fallen Therefore, railroad employee fatalities are caused by both railroad-related and construction-related incidents. Regardless of the type of accident, if you or a loved one has been injured while working on the railroad, you might be eligible for compensation for present and future loss of income, medical expenses and future costs related to rehabilitation or assisted living. An attorney with experience in railroad injury cases will give you the best chance of recovering the most for your damages. Experienced attorneys have been around the block more than once. They know how to handle the staff attorneys employed by the railroad. They are not afraid to take a case to court to get the largest settlement possible. They also are experienced at getting large settlements without going to court. Get the best representation if you were injured in a railroad-related accident. Experienced FELA Attorneys will help you get the justice you deserve.