Michigan Railroad Worker Neck Injury Lawyer
The strenuous nature of railroad workers’ jobs makes them vulnerable to many types of injuries, from broken bones to disfigurement. One of the most common complaints is neck injury. Performing repetitive, physically demanding tasks over a long period can cause debilitating neck injuries. While these injuries can happen suddenly or over many years, they usually result in expensive medical bills, time off work, and other significant losses. An experienced Michigan rail injury lawyer can help rail workers obtain compensation for job-related neck injuries.
What Causes Neck Injuries?
Railroad work often involves lifting heavy equipment and engaging in repetitive motions, which can hurt the neck, back, and spine. Working at a railroad jobsite also means dealing with an environment full of sudden reactive motions, including jerking and jolting.
Exposure to hazardous working conditions increases the risk of herniated discs and other painful neck injuries. When railroad workers suffer neck problems, they may have to take time off work to recover or face work restrictions due to chronic pain. In certain severe cases, their railroad career may even be cut short.
Common Types of Neck Injuries
- Sprains and strains: Lifting heavy objects or operating large machinery are among many tasks that can lead to sprains or strains. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, sprains and strains are the most common injuries reported by railroad conductors and yardmasters. These painful injuries can cause muscle spasms, swelling, bruising, and even a loss of mobility.
- Whiplash: Whiplash occurs when there is a rapid and violent shaking of the head. A fall or train collision often results in this type of injury, which can affect neck tissue, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and spinal discs. In mild cases, injured rail workers may recover within a few weeks. However, some may experience serious, long-lasting complications such as mobility issues, disabilities, or intense pain.
- Herniated discs: Herniated cervical discs are one of the most common causes of neck pain. Making sudden, jarring motions or turning the upper body too quickly can cause this type of injury. Symptoms include shooting pain, muscle weakness, and numbness or tingling in the shoulder and arms. If the disc presses on the spinal cord, it can cause more serious symptoms, including loss of balance or difficulty with movement.
Pursuing Compensation for a Neck Injury
A debilitating neck injury can leave railroad employees physically unable to perform their primary job duties. They may have to take significant time off work to heal.
Neck injuries can require extensive medical treatments like surgery, physical therapy, injections, or spinal fusions. Sometimes, neck pain may be a symptom of a more serious underlying problem, such as a herniated disc. The medical bills and recovery process for these issues can cause serious financial concerns in addition to physical pain.
Railroad workers hurt on the job can pursue compensation for neck injury-related losses, including past and future medical expenses, lost wages, decreased earning capacity, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), injured railroad workers can recover economic and non-economic damages.
Employers have a duty to provide railroad workers with a safe workplace. Successfully obtaining compensation involves showing that the employer was negligent or violated this responsibility. An experienced Michigan railroad injury lawyer can help injured rail employees pursue a FELA claim and recover the compensation they deserve.
Reach Out to the Respected Railroad Injury Lawyers at Sommers Schwartz for a Free Consultation
At Sommers Schwartz, P.C., our Michigan railroad injury lawyers have decades of experience providing quality representation to rail workers and their families. Attorney Arvin Pearlman, a recognized authority in FELA claims, and Ben Wilensky, an experienced FELA lawyer, are dedicated to pursuing maximum compensation for rail employees injured on the job.
To learn more and schedule a free consultation with one of our skilled railroad injury lawyers, call 800-783-0989. You can also reach us through our online contact form.
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