A large part of working on the railroad is switching operations. On that note, please follow along to find out what switching operations entail and how one of the proficient railroad switching injury lawyers at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP can help you avoid their potential hazards.
What do railroad switching operations entail?
Essentially, switching operations involve moving railcars within the confines of a railroad yard. Here, rail cars may be disassembled and reassembled in a way that makes them adequately suited for specific needs. Then, they may get moved to different tracks, again, grouped by commodity or destination. Or, they may get moved to a track not being used, in the instance that they require certain repairs or are otherwise being used as storage for the railroad yard workers.
For safety purposes, railroad switching operations are generally supposed to be conducted at slow-speed movements, with rail cars not moving any faster than 15 miles per hour. Also, throughout the process, railroad workers are supposed to communicate with one another clearly so everyone is fully aware of all its moving parts, so to speak.
How can workers get hurt during switching operations?
Unfortunately, even with safety protocols established by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), a railroad company employer may fail to adequately train employees on them or successfully enforce them throughout their workplace. Sadly, this makes for one of the leading causes of switching operations accidents throughout the railroad industry. More specifically, workers may find themself a victim of such an accident due to any of the following causes:
- A railroad worker may poorly communicate directions with another and get crushed between two rail cars.
- A railroad worker may be handling malfunctioning switching equipment and incur a fractured or broken bone.
- A railroad worker may not get breaks from operating manual switches and incur a repetitive stress injury.
- A railroad worker may have poor visibility on the yard, get hit by a moving railcar, and get a traumatic brain injury.
- A railroad worker may have to work during poor inclement weather conditions and slip and fall on the track.
What kind of claim do I file if I get a switching operations injury?
You may believe that your railroad company employer violated the rules and regulations set out by the FRA. You may also think that this partially or fully led to your switching operations injury. If these things are true, you may file a Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claim. This claim type is specifically in place for injured railroad workers like you who deserve justice. And also, financial compensation for your unnecessary involvement in an accident during work.
In conclusion, you should retain legal representation before you even get close to filing a FELA claim. So please, contact one of the talented FELA lawyers from Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP today.
