Call

Houston Railroad Accident Attorneys

Houston Railroad Accident Attorneys

Federal law provides specific protections for railroad workers that go well beyond standard workers’ compensation. If you have been hurt on the job, call Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner at (713) 222-7211 to schedule a free consultation with our Houston railroad worker injury lawyers, or reach out online.

Railroad work comes with risks that most jobs never have. When an injury happens on the job, the consequences can reach into every part of your life and cause real uncertainty about your future. Dealing with railroad employers and their claims representatives while recovering from a serious injury adds another layer of pressure that no one should face alone.

Types of Railroad Accidents in Texas

Railroad work covers a wide range of jobs and environments, and injuries can happen in countless ways. Our firm sees many types of incidents throughout the Houston area, including:

  • train derailments;
  • switching yard accidents and railroad switch injury claims;
  • coupling and uncoupling injuries;
  • track maintenance accidents and ballast injuries;
  • locomotive equipment failures and unsafe locomotive cab conditions;
  • repetitive motion and cumulative trauma injuries;
  • toxic chemical exposure leading to railroad solvent exposure claims;
  • slip, trip, and fall incidents on railroad property; and
  • METRORail accidents that affect passengers and pedestrians.

The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA)

Traditional workers’ compensation does not cover railroad workers like it does other work injuries. Instead, FELA is a federal law that allows injured employees to pursue claims against their employer when negligence contributed to the harm they suffered. Under 45 U.S.C. § 51, the railroad can be held liable for injuries caused in whole or in part by the carrier’s negligence or by defective equipment.

Who Is Liable for Railroad Accident Injury Claims?

Determining liability in a railroad injury case requires a careful investigation of the circumstances surrounding the incident. Determining liability in a railroad injury case requires a careful investigation of the circumstances surrounding the incident:

  • the railroad company (employer);
  • equipment manufacturers;
  • maintenance contractors;
  • track owners and operators;
  • other railroad employees whose negligence contributed;
  • third-party companies operating on railroad property; and
  • government entities responsible for crossing safety.

If multiple parties are liable, our attorneys can bring multiple claims.

What Causes Railroad Accidents in Houston, Texas?

Railroad accidents rarely happen for a single reason. The Federal Railroad Administration tracks incidents across the country, and the same dangerous conditions appear repeatedly in cases handled in the Harris County area:

  • defective or poorly maintained equipment;
  • inadequate safety training;
  • understaffing and worker fatigue tied to violations of the Hours of Service Act, codified at 49 U.S.C. Chapter 211;
  • failure to follow federal safety regulations;
  • track defects and signal failures;
  • hazardous working conditions inside locomotive cabs that lack proper ventilation or shielding;
  • negligent supervision; and
  • failure to provide proper protective gear.

Common Catastrophic Injuries in Railroad Accidents

Train accidents and railroad work injuries frequently cause severe, life-altering harm because of the size, weight, and force involved with railroad equipment. Workers in this industry face some of the most serious injury outcomes of any occupation, including:

  • traumatic brain injuries;
  • spinal cord damage;
  • amputations;
  • severe burns from chemical exposure or fires;
  • multiple bone fractures, including ballast injuries from working on uneven track surfaces;
  • internal organ damage that may not be immediately apparent but can become life-threatening without prompt treatment;
  • strokes and cardiovascular events linked to job-related stressors; and
  • permanent hearing loss from prolonged noise exposure on the job.

The physical toll does not stop there. Workers and bystanders alike can suffer serious consequences when something goes wrong, and the full scope of harm is not always visible in the days immediately following an incident.

What Damages Are Available for Railroad Accident Injury Claims?

Injured railroad workers and their families may be entitled to recover a wide range of damages under FELA. Our attorneys identify every category of compensation that applies to your case and pursue the full value of your claim, including:

  • past and future medical expenses;
  • lost income and earning capacity;
  • pain and suffering in the past and future;
  • mental anguish;
  • emotional suffering;
  • permanent disfigurement;
  • loss of enjoyment of life;
  • vocational rehabilitation costs; and
  • wrongful death damages.

Why Choose Our Houston Railroad Worker Injury Lawyers?

Since 1951, Abraham Watkins has been representing seriously injured workers and their families throughout Texas. Our firm has built a reputation on preparation, results, and a willingness to take cases to trial when that is what recovery requires. Our attorneys are Board-Certified trial lawyers who have recovered billions of dollars for injured clients, and we have earned the respect of judges and juries across the docket.

We handle the full range of FELA and railroad injury matters, including:

  • conducting detailed railroad accident investigations;
  • filing FELA claims for injured workers;
  • pursuing railroad negligence claims against unsafe carriers;
  • representing victims of switching yard and railroad switch injuries;
  • handling railroad solvent exposure and toxic chemical cases;
  • pursuing cardiovascular harm linked to job conditions;
  • holding companies accountable for railroad OSHA violations; and
  • representing families in wrongful death claims involving railroad workers.

Frequently Asked Questions: Houston Railroad Injury Victims

How Often Do Train Accidents Occur in the Houston Area?

Houston is one of the busiest rail hubs in the country, with major freight lines and switching yards operating around the clock. The Federal Railroad Administration reports thousands of railroad incidents nationwide each year, with Texas leading the nation and Harris County accounting for the largest share of train crashes, including a significant number of derailments each year.

How Long Do I Have to File a Railroad Injury Claim?

Under 45 U.S.C. § 56, injured railroad workers generally have three years from the date of the injury to pursue FELA claims in litigation. For cumulative trauma or occupational illness cases, the clock typically starts when you knew or should have known that your condition was related to your work. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your claim.

Contact Us
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Untitled
Testimonials
Houston personal injury attorney

Request A
Free Consultation

Fields Marked With An “*” Are Required

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Untitled