In a literal sense, you must be wary of a lot of moving parts while working on the railroad. This is to say that getting on and off moving equipment is categorized as one of the most common and harmful accidents a railroad worker can fall victim to. Without the need for further introduction, please continue reading to learn why this job function might be dangerous and how an experienced lawyer who handles getting on and off moving equipment injuries at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP can help you recover after yours.
Why do railroad workers get on and off moving equipment?
First of all, getting on and off moving equipment means the act of entraining and detraining rail cars or locomotives before they come to a complete stop. This is so freight may continue moving, and subsequently, productivity may trend upward.
Unfortunately, especially with a newly adopted profit-focused concept called precision scheduled railroading, many railroad companies not only allow getting on and off moving equipment, but encourage it. In fact, this concept may make this act even more hazardous because it reduces the number of workers organized to work at one time to maximize the bottom line profits.
Overall, no amount of training or supervision may make up for the fact that serious or even fatal injuries are likely to result.
Why is getting on and off moving railroad equipment dangerous?
If your railroad company employer still permits the practice of getting on and off moving railroad equipment, you may get injured in any of the following ways:
- You may slip, trip, and fall due to slippery conditions (i.e., oil, grease, water, etc.) on the moving rail car you board or disembark from.
- You may reach out for a malfunctioning grab iron, handhold, or any other safety feature when trying to steady yourself in motion.
- You may encounter a faulty hand brake or coupling system and get crushed between two moving rail cars before you can move.
- You may not anticipate the abrupt movement of the rail car you board onto and unnaturally jolt your neck, knee, ankle, etc.
- You may receive poor or no communication from fellow railroad workers regarding sudden shifts for the rail car you board.
Whatever the specific causation behind your getting on and off moving equipment injury, you may know your negligent employer is behind it. With that being said, we encourage you to share your experience with one of our legal representatives so that you can plan out a potential Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claim.
In the end, if you are ready to get the financial compensation you deserve, please retain the services of one of the skilled FELA lawyers. Our team at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP awaits your phone call.
