Catastrophic injuries: What railroad industry injuries qualify under FELA

While FELA applies to all on-the-job railroad injuries, it's most significant for catastrophic injuries that permanently change a worker's life and career. Understanding what counts as catastrophic under FELA can help workers identify when they may qualify for major compensation.

Catastrophic injuries under FELA typically cause permanent physical impairment, limit or end the worker's ability to perform railroad work, require long-term medical treatment or rehabilitation, and significantly reduce quality of life. Government and legal analyses characterize catastrophic injuries as those leaving a worker with lasting physical, neurological, or emotional harm that impacts daily life and working capacity.

The law does not require that an injury be immediately life-threatening to qualify as catastrophic. What matters is the long-term effect on the worker's physical capabilities, earning capacity, and overall quality of life.

Types of catastrophic injuries in railroad work

Railroad operations involve heavy machinery, high-voltage electricity, and massive moving equipment. These hazards create numerous opportunities for severe injury. Railroad workers sustain catastrophic injuries every year that permanently change their lives and ability to work.

• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis. Back or neck trauma from falls, collisions, crushing equipment, or derailments can cause partial or complete paralysis, like paraplegia or quadriplegia. These injuries mean permanent disability and require extensive medical care and lifestyle changes. Workers with spinal cord injuries often struggle with mobility, independence, and finding work for the rest of their lives.
• Traumatic brain injuries. External trauma, chemical exposure, or other workplace incidents can result in permanent brain damage, cognitive impairment, personality changes, memory loss, and diminished independence. Severe head trauma from derailments, falls, struck-by hazards, or equipment failure can lead to long-term consequences that affect every aspect of a worker's life.
• Amputation or major limb loss. Coupling accidents, equipment entanglement, equipment failure, and derailments can result in the loss of limbs or fingers. Amputations are catastrophic due to the permanent loss of function. These injuries permanently alter physical capabilities and independence, typically requiring prosthetics and extensive rehab.
• Crush injuries. Getting trapped by railcars, equipment, or structural failures often results in multi-system injuries affecting bones, organs, and soft tissue. Heavy equipment, derailments, or coupling accidents can cause severe crush injuries or multiple fractures that permanently disable workers. These injuries can lead to permanent damage to organs or limbs and require extended medical treatment.
• Severe burns and electrical shock. Contact with high-voltage equipment, electrical faults, live wires, fires, and chemicals can result in permanent scarring, disfigurement, nerve damage, or disability. Burns from fuel, steam, or chemicals may require numerous surgeries and leave workers dealing with ongoing pain and limited function.
• Multiple fractures and complex bone injuries. High-impact accidents such as derailments, collisions, or falls from height can cause extensive fractures. Breaking multiple bones or damaging major joints qualifies as catastrophic due to the lasting impact on how well someone can move and function.

Aggravation of pre-existing conditions under FELA

When a railroad injury significantly worsens something a worker already dealt with, it may be considered catastrophic, particularly if it results in permanent impairment or disability. Railroad workers often deal with conditions like back or joint problems that become severely limiting after a workplace incident. FELA allows holding the railroad liable for making conditions worse, even when they preexisted the accident.

How FELA differs from workers' compensation for catastrophic injuries

Workers' compensation systems usually provide limited benefits based on fixed schedules that cap compensation no matter what the actual damages are. FELA allows railroad workers to recover complete compensation for everything, including medical expenses past and future, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life.

For catastrophic injuries, this distinction becomes particularly important. Someone paralyzed in a railroad accident will need decades of medical treatment, modifications to their home, assistive devices, and they've lost their ability to earn. FELA ensures the railroad company is financially responsible for the complete scope of damage their negligence created.

You may file a FELA claim for catastrophic railroad injuries

For over 35 years, ELG Law has represented railroad workers who suffered catastrophic injuries due to employer negligence. If you sustained a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, amputation, severe burns, crush injury, or any other life-altering harm while working for a railroad, you may be entitled to full compensation under FELA. Get in touch with ELG Law for a free case review. We'll analyze your accident details and medical records to determine how strong your case is and fight for the maximum recovery federal law provides.