Railroad Worker Injuries

The Federal Employers' Liability Act ("FELA") was enacted by Congress in 1908 to address the growing number of work-related injuries in the railroad industry. Like other industrial safety statutes, the FELA was an attempt to require the railroad industry to bear the costs for the inevitable deaths and injuries of employees -- the "human overhead" of business.

Railroads: Dangerous Work

Even today, the railroad industry is regarded as one of the most dangerous industries in the country. But not all railroad related deaths and injuries however, are due to train accidents and derailments.

Every year, hundreds of railroad employees are diagnosed with lung-related illnesses as a result of their occupational exposure to numerous harmful materials and substances.

Years of regular, unprotected exposure to asbestos, chemicals, PCBs, diesel fumes, rail dust and dust particulates, cleaning agents, and various other harmful contaminate substances often results in a variety of pulmonary conditions and illnesses. These illnesses can be debilitating, progressive and often untreatable.

If you are a railroad worker and have been injured as a result being exposed to hazardous conditions you may qualify for damages.

Click here to send your complaint to a Lawyer through a secure form

Railroad Injury Articles

No Signal Protection for Railroad Workers Cause for Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority Accident
A conclusion has been reached by the National Transportation Safety Board in relation to the train accident that included a Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) train with a maintenance vehicle. The train accident involving the injury to railroad workers occurred in Woburn, MA on January 9, 2007.

Providence, RI Railroad Worker Loses Life by Amtrak Train
A one-time employee of Amtrak who was working there in the capacity of a contractor, was killed, while two other railroad workers sustained injuries. Sixty-five year old Gary Graves lost his life on March 13th 2008 while completing some track work on a contracted basis for Amtrak.

Less harassment - greater protection - for injured railroad workers
Workin' on the railroad all the live-long day is one way not to live long at all, as thousands of railroad workers in the U.S. have discovered. It is an issue the United States Congress is now investigating, and lawsuits are being filed.

Railroad Ballast Injuries
As railroad ballast injuries become more common, many railroad workers have filed lawsuits against their employers alleging that they have developed serious and sometimes permanent injuries as a result of improper ballast in railyards. Recently, a jury in Maryland awarded eight railroad workers a total of $15.1 million in their railroad ballast injury lawsuit against CSX Transportation Inc., the railroad company for which they worked.

Railroad Injuries: What to Do When Life Goes Off the Rails
In spite of the overall decline of rail travel in recent times, as goods are increasingly shipped by truck, and human cargo travel by air or commute by cyberspace, the railroad continues to be one of the most dangerous industries in the nation, if recent litigated settlements are any indication.

Railroad Worker Injuries / FELA in the News

JAN-16-08: A railroad worker filed a FELA lawsuit alleging Union Pacific did not provide him a safe place to work. The plaintiff alleges he sustained injury to his back and knees. [RECORD: FELA]

JAN-14-08: A railroad conductor has filed a FELA lawsuit alleging that he suffered neck injuries due to sitting on a broken seat. The plaintiff claims Union Pacific failed to provide him with a safe place to work. [RECORD: FELA]

JAN-11-08: A man filed a FELA lawsuit alleging he was exposed to asbestos during his time working on box cars. The plaintiff claims CSX failed to provide him with a safe place to work. [RECORD: RAILROAD FELA]

JAN-03-08: A railroad engineer and fireman filed a FELA lawsuit against Illinois Central Railroad alleging he sustained back injuries as a result of repetitive and cumulative trauma to his back. [RECORD: FELA]

JAN-02-08: A railroad machinist has filed a FELA lawsuit alleging he was injured while loading a governor onto a locomotive. He claims he was required to do physical tasks beyond his capability, which resulted in his injury. [RECORD: RAILROAD FELA]

DEC-31-07: A trackman has filed a fela lawsuit against ICR alleging he was injured as a result of being subjected to numerous repetitive traumas and walking on unstable ballast. [RECORD: RAILROAD FELA]

DEC-18-07: A railroad machine operate filed a FELA lawsuit alleging he experienced long-term cumulative trauma and whole body vibration because of his employer's negligence. The plaintiff seeks in excess of $50,000. [RECORD: FELA]

DEC-13-07: A former railroad employee has filed a lawsuit claiming he contracted lung cancer because of his work with toxic and harmful dusts. The plaintiff alleges his employers failed to protect him as required by FELA. [RECORD: FELA]

DEC-10-07: An engineer has filed a FELA lawsuit for injuries he sustained while on his way to work. The plaintiff alleges he injured his neck, right shoulder and back. [RECORD: FELA]

OCT-4-07: A train conductor with CSX Transportation filed a FELA complaint against his employer seeking compensatory damages on the job injuries. His lawsuit alleges his employer did not provide safe tools and equipment. [RECORD: FELA RAILROAD]

OCT-1-07: A Union Pacific Railroad engineer has filed a personal injury lawsuit alleging that his severe back problems are the fault of his employer. He is claiming under FELA that his employer failed to provide an ergonomic work environment. [RECORD: RAILROAD]

SEP-25-07: A $50,000+ personal injury lawsuit has been filed by a railroad worker under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. The complaint alleges the man received a debilitating shoulder injury due to negligence of his railroad employer. [RECORD: RAILROAD]

Railroad Worker Injury Legal Help

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed, or had your health affected while working for a railroad, please click the link below to send your story to a lawyer who will review your claim at no cost or obligation.