Work on or around railroads is undoubtedly dangerous. Excessive heat exposure, exposure to certain chemicals, and random fires and explosions are a few more things railroad workers must worry about. This is because when injuries result, there may be weighty physical, emotional, and financial suffering that follows. With that being said, please follow along to find out how you can get a burn injury doing railroad work and how one of the proficient FELA lawyers at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP can help recover the damages from yours.
How can I get a burn injury from railroad work?
Getting burned in the process of railroad work may happen in more ways than one. The specific types of burn injuries a railroad worker may be made the victim of are as follows:
- Friction burn: this happens when a railroad worker excessively handles a piece of equipment that grinds against their skin.
- Cold burn: this happens when a railroad worker is forced to work under extremely cold weather conditions with exposed skin.
- Chemical burn: this happens when a railroad worker comes into contact with a chemical that is spilled or improperly contained.
- Radiation burn: this happens when a railroad worker gets hit by sparks from welding torches without the proper protective gear.
- Electrical burn: this happens when a railroad worker comes into contact with a high-energy electrical current during a switching operation.
- Flame burn: this happens when a railroad worker is in the vicinity during a diesel engine fire, electrical wiring fire, or malfunctioning equipment fire.
What damages can result from a burn injury on the railroad?
If a railroad worker experiences a second-degree, third-degree, or full-thickness burn, they may require skin grafts on the affected areas that cannot heal on their own. Even though this may improve its appearance, there may still be permanent scarring that causes a worker shame and embarrassment when showing themselves in society. What’s more, they may not regain full mobility in this body part, further diminishing their quality of life and enjoyment of life.
Even worse, though, is if this burn injury causes the affected body part to lose blood supply, grow dangerously infected, and overall become non-viable. Unfortunately, their treating physician may have to make the life-saving decision to amputate. This is, of course, a higher degree of permanent disfigurement. The most unfortunate scenario, though, is when a railroad worker cannot be saved from a railyard explosion or fire, or if the smoke inhalation is too much, and they unfortunately pass away as a result.
In any of these aforementioned examples, likely, this heat exposure, chemical exposure, fire, or explosion was caused by a negligent railroad company employer who improperly maintained the worksite and its equipment. Or, if they otherwise failed to administer the proper protective gear or safety training before letting these employees work with these dangerous tools or under these hazardous conditions. If so, this may call for a Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claim to recover resulting economic and non-economic damages.
To conclude, before you step into a civil courtroom, you must seek one of the talented FELA lawyers to stand by your side. Please contact our office, Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP, as soon as you are ready.
