The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) allows railroad workers who were injured on the job to hold their negligent employer accountable via a legal action. Secondly, and notably, the Locomotive Inspection Act (LIA) enforces strict standards for maintenance, inspection, and safety of locomotive equipment to prevent such injuries from transpiring in the first place. With these two federal laws combined, you may have valid grounds to sue if you get hurt due to a piece of defective locomotive equipment. This may be especially hurt if it goes to the extent of body disfigurement. With that being said, please follow along to find out how you might become permanently disfigured and how one of the proficient defective locomotive equipment injury lawyers at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP can help you recover in the aftermath of all this.
Can defective locomotive equipment leave me permanently disfigured?
When a piece of locomotive equipment does not work properly, it may prompt a derailment, crash, fire, or another type of catastrophic accident. And if a railroad worker is physically present, they may fall, collide, get severely burned, etc., thus likely resulting in a permanent body disfigurement. More specific examples read as follows:
- A faulty brake may cause a locomotive to derail, a railroad worker to fall off the railcar and incur a facial bone fracture, and to get one of their facial features visibly deformed.
- A faulty coupler may cause a locomotive to collide, a railroad worker to get crushed between railcars, and to lose one of their limbs due to necessary amputation.
- A faulty fuel tank can cause a locomotive to catch fire, a railroad worker to get severely burned, and to lose function or mobility in an extremity due to chronic pain.
Can I sue if I receive permanent body disfigurement?
Having a part of your body permanently disfigured goes beyond just having a visible flaw that may be judged by society. Rather, it is a life-altering injury that may significantly diminish your quality of life.
For example, you may have to go on permanent disability and miss out on wages and career opportunities indefinitely. This is not to mention that if you lose mobility functions, you may have to hire third-party help to assist in daily hygiene routines and domestic chores. Overall, this physical pain may translate into emotional suffering, with having to sacrifice the activities you once enjoyed, and overall isolating yourself from society and even your loved ones due to shame and embarrassment surrounding your appearance.
All of this to say, you should seek some sort of justice and file a FELA claim against the negligent railroad employer who caused your permanent bodily disfigurement. We understand just how overwhelming all of this can be for you. So, if you have any remaining questions, please consult with one of the talented FELA lawyers. The team at Hildebran McLeod & Nelson LLP is willing and able to provide you with legal assistance in any capacity.
