Personal Injury, Railroad Injuries And Maritime
Accident Lawyers

What Are the Most Common Injuries to Railroad Employees?

Railway incidents can cause injuries ranging from minor sprains to severe spinal injuries, or in some cases, wrongful death. Some of the most common injuries sustained by railroad workers include:

• Knee and Shoulder injuries resulting in surgery
• Broken bones resulting from collisions or from walking on slick and uneven surfaces
• Burn injuries resulting from engine fires, electrical burns, and exposure to hazardous chemicals
• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries that develop as a result of slips and falls or falling freight
• Back and spinal injuries, such as herniated discs caused by heavy lifting

Who Is at Fault in a Railroad Injury?

Railroad injuries can result from the negligence of many parties. At Rome, Arata, Baxley & Stelly, LLC, we work tirelessly to hold negligent actors liable for the harm they caused. At-fault parties in a railroad injury may include:

• Railroad companies, for failure to properly maintain equipment such as switches and grab irons
• Negligent drivers of vehicles who are not affiliated with railroad companies
• Trespassers or people who are unauthorized to cross railroad tracks outside of designated areas
• Manufacturers of railroad locomotives, cars, and equipment
• Government entities and contractors who maintain or fail to maintain grade crossings

What Types of Damages Can Injured Workers Expect?

The sheer combined size of railroad locomotives and the cars they pull can make railroad injuries physically, financially, and mentally devastating. Recovery can sometimes take weeks or months, and some injured workers never experience a full recovery.

As the victim of a railroad injury, the law may entitle you to compensation for a multitude of damages, including:

• Wages lost for missing work as a result of your injuries
• Medical bills for healthcare services related to your injuries
• Pain and emotional suffering
• Payment for partial or permanent disabilities
• Counseling fees for injury-related mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder

Common Tactics Responsible Parties Use to Avoid Payment

Responsible parties may resort to the following malicious tactics to evade liability:

• They may urge you to sign a release to absolve them of any liability
• They may ignore your claims or dismiss them as unsubstantiated
• They will try to point out reasons why you were at fault for the injury
• They will try to offer an unreasonably low settlement in an effort to get you to abandon legal action
• Their lawyers will resort to bullying tactics to scare or intimidate you

If you are on the receiving end of any of these tactics, seek legal guidance immediately. Enlisting the help of an accomplished attorney as soon as possible, with experience in railroad injury cases will help protect your rights.

How Much Does an Attorney Cost?

At Rome, Arata, Baxley & Stelly, LLC, we recognize that most railroad employees cannot afford to pay out of pocket for legal representation, especially if they cannot work due to their injuries and are struggling to pay medical bills and other expenses. Accordingly, we take cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that you pay nothing up front, and we only receive a percentage of any verdict or settlement you recover. Our goal is to help you secure the settlement you deserve, and we are proud to offer free consultations to injured railroad workers.

What to Do When You Are Injured? Call Rome, Arata, Baxley & Stelly, LLC (800) 249-1306

After reporting your injuries to your supervisor and seeking medical help for your injuries, the single most important step you can take is to contact an attorney with proven experience in helping injured railroad workers. We invite you to contact us for a complimentary consultation with one of Rome, Arata, Baxley & Stelly, LLC’s experienced railroad worker injury attorneys. Reach us at (800) 249-1306.