Train Accidents Help
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Many railroad workers may suffer repetitive motion injuries as a result of the stress placed on their bodies by their regular job duties. These repetitive trauma injuries can make it difficult to work and may require expensive surgeries to correct a railroad worker’s injuries.
Repetitive motion injuries can be caused by a number of a railroad worker’s regular job duties, including throwing switches, climbing railroad cars, jumping off of moving trains or stress from railroad ballast injuries. Over time, these can cause wear and tear on the bones, joints and muscles and may potentially lead to painful and debilitating injuries.
Under the Federal Employees Liability Act (FELA), railroad companies have an obligation to protect employees from injury. This can include properly supervising employees, instructing them in safe work practices, providing the equipment necessary for them to do their jobs safely or other safety measures. Failure to do so may cause employees to suffer repetitive motions injuries such as:
Tendonitis
Tendonitis is a condition in which the tendons (the tough bands of tissue that connect the muscles to the bone) become inflamed due to overuse. The most common forms of tendonitis include wrist tendonitis, Achilles tendonitis, patellar (kneecap) tendonitis and rotator cuff (shoulder) tendonitis.
Bursitis
Bursitis occurs as a result of an inflammation of the bursa—the small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion and lubricate the area around the joints. Although the shoulders, elbows and hips are the joints most frequently affected by bursitis, this condition can also occur in the knees, heel or other joints.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause severe pain in the wrist which may worsen over time. This condition occurs when the median nerve, which runs down the arm to the hand, becomes pressed and squeezed at the wrist. At first, a person with carpal tunnel syndrome may only feel numbness or tingling in the arms or wrist; but over time, the condition may cause them to experience more severe pain and may make it difficult to grip objects or perform manual labor.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition caused by the breakdown of cartilage between the bones of the joints due to repeated stress. Over time, wear and tear can cause this cartilage to wear down, increasing stress on the joints. In some cases, this cartilage may wear down completely, causing the bones to rub together and leading to severe pain.
