An amputation can happen in an instant, but the consequences can last a lifetime. For railroad workers in Shreveport, the risks are real: heavy equipment, high-traffic yards, and strict timetables all demand constant safety oversight. When the railroad fails to uphold its duty to provide a safe working environment for its railroaders and someone gets hurt, the FELA gives injured workers the right to hold the railroad carriers accountable.
Our Shreveport FELA railroad accident amputation lawyers represent railroad workers who’ve lost limbs due to preventable workplace conditions and accidents. We understand how these injuries affect your career, your independence, and your future. As Shreveport FELA railroad accident lawyers, we build every case with the long view in mind to ensure we pursue the compensation you’ll need to move forward. Stay on Track™. Call today for a free consultation.
Shreveport Rail Workers Are Protected By Federal Laws
Shreveport has multiple major rail lines running through the city, and its surrounding yards support heavy industrial activity. Local railroad workers face constant exposure to high-risk environments. A Shreveport railroad injury lawyer can help those workers hold railroad companies accountable when switching operations, freight transfers, yard maintenance, or locomotive servicing lead to preventable harm—even under seemingly ideal conditions.
But when railroads skip inspections, delay repairs, or send understaffed crews into fast-moving work zones, the margin for error disappears. That’s when injuries like amputations happen. In our experience, these aren’t isolated events; they’re the result of deeper failures in policy, communication, or equipment oversight.
Railroad companies operating in Shreveport have a duty to maintain safe worksites, properly train employees, and follow every relevant federal safety regulation. When they cut corners, the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) gives injured railroad workers the power to push back and the legal right to pursue justice for what was lost.
How a Small Oversight Can Lead to a Catastrophic Injury
In railroad work, there’s rarely such a thing as a harmless mistake. When you’re working with thousands of pounds of moving steel, even a single missed step in safety can lead to a devastating injury. Amputations often result not from major accidents, but from avoidable errors that were allowed to build up over time.
We’ve seen workers lose limbs because a handrail wasn’t installed where it should have been. Because a crew was forced to rush during shoving car operations. Because a coupler wasn’t inspected. Because a switching signal wasn’t clearly communicated. These aren’t flukes; they’re signs of a system that failed to protect its people.
Under the FELA, the railroad carrier is required to provide its railroad workers with a safe working environment. What matters is whether the railroad’s negligence contributed in any way to your injury. That could mean ignoring maintenance warnings, assigning undertrained crews to dangerous tasks, or failing to enforce basic procedures. The law doesn’t require perfection, but it does require accountability when safety falls short. Our Shreveport personal injury lawyers can help.
Don’t Get Railroaded ®
Contact Our Experienced Attorneys Today to Get Back On The Right Track.
Shreveport Railroad Workers Can Seek Compensation for Their Injuries and Losses
After an amputation, the real costs go far beyond the hospital stay. For railroad workers, losing a limb often means losing the ability to do the job you’ve trained for, sometimes permanently. The FELA gives injured employees the right to seek compensation that reflects the full impact of that loss, not just a fraction of it.
In the past five years alone, we’ve recovered more than $30 million for our clients. Every result is unique to the facts of each case, but our approach is the same for all of our clients and is built to maximize value based on the law, the medicine, and the facts in each and every case. There are two main categories of damages our Shreveport personal injury lawyer can seek for you:
Economic Damages
Railroad amputations don’t just cause immediate disruption; they create long-term financial consequences. The FELA allows injured workers to recover the full value of those losses, including:
- Medical costs for surgeries, prosthetics, rehabilitation, and long-term treatment
- Lost wages during recovery and for any reduced work hours
- Loss of future earning capacity if you can’t return to your previous role
- Home modifications, assistive devices, and mobility accommodations
- Vocational retraining, if a career change becomes necessary
These damages are calculated based on your life and your work—not a generic chart. We work with medical experts and financial professionals to build an accurate picture of what your recovery will actually cost.
Non-Economic Damages
An amputation doesn’t just affect your paycheck, it changes how you live. FELA also allows you to recover for:
- Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional
- Loss of enjoyment of life, including hobbies, relationships, and daily independence
- Disfigurement or permanent disability
- Emotional distress, including anxiety, PTSD, or depression
These losses can’t be measured in dollars alone, but they carry real weight. We make sure they’re reflected in your case.
How We Handle Railroad Amputation Cases at Poolson | Oden
Amputation cases under the FELA aren’t like other injury claims. They’re complex, high-stakes, and aggressively defended by the railroad. That’s why we don’t rely on templates or shortcuts. At Poolson | Oden, every case starts with preparation and ends with pressure—because that’s what it takes to get real results.
We surround each client with a full legal team:
- A field representative ready to meet you in Shreveport, at home, or wherever needed
- A welcome specialist to guide your first steps
- A medical records coordinator who tracks your care and timelines
- A case manager who helps gather documents and supports litigation
- Trial attorneys who prepare early, with a jury-focused strategy
We follow a principle we call “legal follows medical.” That means we fully allow your medical treatment to conclude and your doctors understand your prognosis while we build a case around the full impact of your injury, medically and financially. From there, we use visual tools to clearly show what went wrong and how it changed your life.
Many lawyers handle general injury cases and workers’ compensation claims. Few have the background, focus, and litigation resources needed to build a serious FELA amputation case. We do. And our FELA railroad accident lawyers are ready to start when you are.
Don’t Wait—There’s a Time Limit on Your Right to File a FELA Claim
After a serious injury like an amputation, it’s normal to focus on your recovery first. But under the FELA, your time to take legal action is limited. According to 45 U.S.C. § 56, you typically have three years from the date of injury to file a claim. That clock starts running whether or not you’re fully recovered.
Waiting too long can mean missing key evidence, losing contact with witnesses, or facing a railroad that’s already built its defense. The sooner you get legal help, the better positioned you’ll be to preserve facts, protect your rights, and build a strong case.
Let’s Get You back On Track.
SPEAK WITH AN ATTORNEY TODAYGet the Support You Need From Our Shreveport FELA Railroad Accident Lawyers
Don’t Get Railroaded®. If you’ve lost a limb on the railroad and suspect safety failures or negligence played a role, you have the right to take legal action. Our Shreveport FELA railroad accident amputation lawyers are ready to investigate your case, work with your medical team, and help you pursue the full compensation you deserve.
At Poolson | Oden, we’ve represented hundreds of injured workers across Louisiana and recovered millions for clients whose lives were changed on the job. We understand what’s at stake—and we’re here to help you move forward.
Call now for a free consultation. There’s no obligation, and no fee unless we win for you.