As a railroad worker, you may be regularly tasked with getting on and off moving equipment throughout the workday to perform necessary tasks. Such necessary tasks may entail checking couplings, inspecting track conditions, or otherwise. Evidently, such heavy equipment being in motion makes these inherently dangerous tasks. But what may make accidents and injuries all the more likely is if working conditions are poor as it is. With that being said, please continue reading to learn how a railroad worker can possibly get injured from getting on and off moving equipment and how an experienced lawyer in getting on and off moving equipment injuries, from Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP, can help you build a solid FELA claim for yourself.
How can a railroad worker get injured from getting on and off moving equipment?
Even if getting on and off moving equipment is something you do every single day, one simple misstep or external factor being off may prompt you to enter an accident. Subsequently, it may cause you to incur serious, if not life-altering, injuries. Examples of how this might, unfortunately, happen to you read as follows:
- You may slip, trip, and fall due to slippery conditions, such as from oil, grease, or water.
- You may slip, trip, and fall due to malfunctioning or absentee grab iron or handholds.
- You may slip, trip, and fall due to unexpected jerks or movement of the train while boarding or disembarking.
- You may slip, trip, and fall due to inadequate supervision and training for boarding and disembarking safely.
- You may get caught or crushed between cars by defective automatic hand brakes or coupling systems.
- You may get poor communication from crew members regarding train movements and fall, get caught, or get crushed.
How do I know if I have a valid FELA claim after this kind of accident?
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) is in place to help financially compensate you after you get injured on the job, such as when you are getting on and off moving equipment. However, this Act does not cover you in all situations. That is, to have a valid FELA claim, you must effectively prove the following circumstances surrounding your accident as true:
- You must prove that your railroad company employer or your fellow crew members were negligent in some way at the time of your accident.
- You must prove that this third party’s negligence directly caused you to enter into an accident event and subsequently incur your injuries.
- You must prove that your injuries are substantial enough to warrant a FELA claim, as you may be unable to return to work for a while or indefinitely.
- You must prove that your accident took place and your injuries were incurred within three years of bringing forward your FELA claim.
As an injured railroad worker, there is no one better you can turn to than one of the skilled FELA lawyers from our firm. So please, dial us up at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP at your earliest possible convenience.
