Lafayette Railroad Injury Lawyer

If you were hurt in a train accident or while working for the railroad, you may have a case against the railroad carrier or another liable party. As experienced Lafayette railroad injury lawyers, our team is here to guide and help you understand your options and advocate for your best interests throughout the legal process, ensuring your rights are protected every step of the way. Whether your injury occurred on the job or as a result of a train accident, we are dedicated to helping you understand your legal options and fighting for the justice and compensation you deserve.

When you hire a Lafayette personal injury lawyer from Poolson | Oden Injury Lawyers, you have more than 80 years of combined experience behind you. We work to build a strong case and recover fair compensation for you based on the circumstances of your injuries and the damages you suffered. Call us today to get started. We provide free consultations for injury victims and their families. 

What Are the Recoverable Damages for a Lafayette Railroad Injury?

The damages potentially available in a railroad injury case will depend on the injuries, expenses, and losses you incurred. These damages can also differ if you are an employee injured while working, or if you were a motorist or passenger involved in a train accident. Our attorneys may be able to help you pursue and recover money for your medical care, lost income and benefits, future reduced earning ability, pain and suffering, and other non-economic damages. 

A lawyer from our Lafayette, LA, team will identify, document, and value your damages as a part of managing your case. This includes current and future damages as well as both economic and non-economic damages.  

How Our Team of Attorneys Can Help You After a Lafayette Railroad Injury

At Poolson | Oden, we have a reputation for recovering compensation for our clients. Over the last five years alone, we have secured more than $30 million in compensation for injured accident victims. Some of our railroad-related case results include: 

• $5.75 Million wrongful death payout in a fatal burns case
• $2.2 Million settlement for a railroad conductor with lower back injury
• $1.525 Million payout for a traumatic brain injury suffered by a railroad worker
• $1.515 Million verdict for a railroad bridge worker hurt on the job
• $1.5 Million recovered for a railroad track laborer with a back injury
• $1.5 Million recovered for a railroad maintenance of way worker with a shoulder injury and carpal tunnel syndrome
• $1.3 Million recovered for a railroad carman with shoulder and back injuries
• $1.26 Million recovered for a railroad conductor with neck and back injuries
• $818,000 settlement for an on-board service worker for back injuries after slipping and falling on the train
• $800,000 recovered for a railroad mechanic with a low back injury
• $600,000 recovered for a railroad conductor with an elbow and bicep injury

In each of these cases, we navigated the claims process through the court system and fought for the money our clients deserved. Many railroad workers who suffer on-duty injuries need legal representation that involves taking specific steps guided by specialized knowledge and experience in federal laws governing railroad workers. Unlike general workplace injury cases, these claims require expertise that many attorneys do not possess; as a result, many workplace injury attorneys are unable to handle such cases and may not accept them.

Our entire team works together to fight whatever challenges the defendant puts up in order to recover the money our clients deserve. To help better serve our clients, we work based on a contingency fee arrangement, meaning we never charge upfront fees or costs. We get paid only after you get paid!  And our fees come from the compensation we recover for you, so you never come out of pocket for our legal services. Learn more today during a free consultation. 

Our Lafayette Railroad Injury Attorneys Help Individuals Hurt on the Railroad

Our attorneys represent railroad employees, contract workers, and non-railroad employees, and others hurt on trains or in railyards. Each of these parties has different rights and options. 

Railroad Workers

Injured railroad workers are not covered by traditional workers’ compensation insurance. Instead, railroaders must rely on the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). This federal law requires railroad workers to sue their employer, directly, in order to recover compensation based on negligence. 

This is a direct action against the railroad carrier, meaning the railroader must show that the carrier acted negligently and caused the injuries or allowed the injuries to occur. These can be difficult cases to prove and require specific experience with these types of claims. Our Lafayette FELA railroad accident attorneys know how to develop a compelling argument and fight for fair compensation. 

Contract Workers or Non-Railroad Employees

Contractors and many non-railroad employees are in a difficult position after a workplace accident because they may not qualify for FELA or other coverage. These cases are uniquely challenging, but our team will not back down. We can help you determine your options and secure a favorable result for you. 

Crossing Accidents, Pedestrians, and Passengers

Passengers injured on a train, as well as motorists and pedestrians involved in railroad crossing accidents, have the right to hold the negligent party accountable for their injuries. Frequently, the liable party is the railroad company, though it may also include equipment manufacturers or third-party contractors depending on the circumstances. Many of the hazards that cause injuries to railroad workers—such as faulty equipment, inadequate warnings, safety violations, or improper track maintenance—can also result in harm to passengers, drivers at crossings, and pedestrians near railroad tracks. Our experienced railroad injury lawyers are prepared to help passengers, motorists, and pedestrians thoroughly evaluate their cases, determine who may be responsible, and pursue the justice and compensation they deserve. Whether you were hurt while riding a train, crossing railroad tracks, or working for the railroad, our team is here to provide the specialized guidance and support you need to build a strong case.

Why Are Lafayette Railroad Workers at an Increased Risk of Injuries?

Working on the railroad—as a railroad employee, contractor, or even a non-railroad worker present on or near railroad property—carries significant risks due to a variety of hazards. Some of the most common dangers associated with these jobs include:

• Moving trains and equipment: The constant operation of trains and heavy machinery creates a persistent risk of catastrophic injuries, including being struck by a train or vehicle, caught or crushed between rail cars, or experiencing accidents during switching operations.
• Slip, trip, and fall hazards: Uneven terrain, loose ballast, poor lighting, slippery surfaces due to weather conditions, and cluttered work areas frequently lead to falls resulting in fractures, sprains, back injuries, or head trauma.
• Faulty or unsafe equipment: Malfunctioning or inadequate tools, equipment defects, or outdated machinery may cause crush injuries, amputations, burns, and other serious harm.
• Exposure to hazardous materials: Workers are often in proximity to toxic substances such as diesel exhaust, asbestos, silica dust, creosote, and lead. These exposures may lead to respiratory problems, cancer (like mesothelioma and lung cancer), skin and eye injuries, or long-term illnesses.
• Electrical hazards: Working around high-voltage power lines, switches, and electrical systems carries risks of severe shock or burns.
• Extreme weather conditions: Working outdoors year-round exposes railroad workers to heat exhaustion, dehydration, frostbite, hypothermia, and other temperature-related health issues.
• Repetitive motion and vibration injuries (also known as “cumulative trauma”): The physically demanding and repetitive nature of railroad work often leads to chronic musculoskeletal problems, including back, neck, shoulder, and knee injuries, as well as hand-arm vibration syndrome.
• Noise: Prolonged exposure to loud noise from engines and equipment can result in permanent hearing loss if proper protection is not used.
• Other risks: Collisions, derailments, and dangerous operations such as getting on and off moving equipment (“GOOME”) can have disastrous consequences for anyone present on or near railroad property, including contractors, passengers, motorists at crossings, and pedestrians. GOOME refers specifically to the risky process of railroad workers getting onto or dismounting from rail cars or locomotives while they are still in motion. This practice remains one of the most hazardous activities in railroad operations. GOOME is a leading cause of serious injuries among railroad workers—such as broken bones, amputations, sprains, torn ligaments, and even fatalities—because it exponentially increases the likelihood of catastrophic accidents.

Because many of these dangers can result in severe, life-changing injuries, it is critical that all individuals working in the railroad environment—or those near railroad operations—understand these hazards and take proactive steps to protect their safety and legal rights.

In many cases, railroad companies fail to strictly enforce safety procedures, and this leads to accidents, incidents, and injuries. The carrier may also fail to provide adequate training or oversight, causing problems.

To recover compensation, injured workers must prove the railroad acted negligently by violating safety regulations or otherwise causing or failing to prevent their accident and injuries. Our attorneys manage this process and develop a strong case for compensation. 

Discuss Your Lafayette Railroad Injury Accident With Our Team for Free

Poolson | Oden offers free consultations for injured victims hurt on the railroad. We are here to help you better understand your options after a serious injury. Don’t Get Railroaded. Learn how a Lafayette railroad injury lawyer from our team can help you get justice today. Call now to learn more.