You likely need a certain level of physical fitness to perform and succeed as a railroad worker. After all, the description for the job posting you applied for may have said something along the lines of, “regularly lifting and carrying heavy objects.” While you may already be accustomed to this kind of work, one small lift that is “out of form” may leave you seriously hurt. With that being said, please follow along to find out the types of lifting injuries you might receive after working on the railroad and how one of the proficient railroad lifting injury lawyers at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP can help you be compensated for all the troubles that ensued.
What kinds of lifting injuries can I get from railroad work?
As part of your work, you may be frequently expected to load and unload cargo with heavy materials. Or, to carry around heavy tools, supplies, and machinery for engineering and operations on and around the trains and tracks. With any of these actions, a serious lifting injury may result. This likelihood is exacerbated if you do not use the proper lifting techniques, do not take the necessary breaks, do not wear appropriate footwear or clothing, etc. Without further ado, below are specific examples of what you might experience:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis in the hands and wrists.
- Muscle tears or strains in the back, shoulders, or arms.
- Chronic or acute pain in the lower back region.
- Herniated or bulging discs in the spine.
- Rotator cuff injuries in the shoulders.
- Knee, elbow, and other joint injuries.
- Sprains and soft tissue damage.
What kind of compensation can I get for my lifting injury?
Your lifting injury may be prolonged or even permanent. You may believe that your negligent railroad employer was responsible for you getting hurt in the first place. That is, they may have failed to train you on proper lifting techniques, denied your requested breaks, failed to provide you with safety footwear or clothing, failed to clear the work area with lifting hazards, etc. If any of these ring true to you, you may carefully consider a Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claim. That way, you may attempt to recover the following kinds of compensation for your injury:
- Economic damages recoverable with a successful FELA claim:
- The medical expenses related to your lifting injury.
- Your wages from missed work due to your lifting injury.
- Your diminished earning capacity if your lifting injury is permanent or disabling.
- Non-economic damages recoverable with a successful FELA claim:
- Your physical pain and emotional suffering attributed to your lifting injury.
- Your lost enjoyment of life that comes with having a permanent or disabling injury.
- The long-term impact your permanent or disability injury will have on your quality of life.
We understand that you must be eager to start this process. So, without further delay, please schedule your initial consultation with one of the talented FELA lawyers from Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP today.
