Cumulative Trauma Injuries in Railroad Workers
As one of the newest types of injury claims filed by railroad employees, the phrase “cumulative trauma injury” is relatively new among railroad workers. The term cumulative trauma injury refers to an injury that is caused by repeatedly overusing a certain part of the body.
Workers in the railroad industry face cumulative trauma injuries because of certain tasks that require parts of their bodies to work harder and bear more impact than they are prepared for. Over time, the wear and tear can result in permanent damage to the body.
FELA Occupational Illness Claims
Railroad workers are protected under FELA (Federal Employers’ Liability Act). Today, more and more railroad workers are filing injury claims for cumulative trauma injuries caused by repetitive stress they say they endured while working for the railroad industry. Cumulative trauma can affect a worker’s neck and spine, ankles and feet, hands and wrists, and other parts of the body.
Lawsuits are being filed on behalf of railroad workers who claim they suffered long-term damage as a result of repeated stress to the body. Many of the lawsuits blame the defendant railroad companies for not warning their employees of the potential dangers associated with their jobs and for not creating a safe working environment for their employees.
Claims against the railroad companies argue they should create safer work environments for their workers. This might mean making changes to the equipment used by railroad workers or changing their daily tasks.
If you are a railroad worker and have suffered an injury that you believe may have been caused by repeated stress to your body, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit. For more information, contact a FELA attorney by calling (800) 773-6770.
