Pre-Settlement Funding: Railroad Back Injury
Back injuries are some of the most severe types of injuries employees, especially those who work in the railroad sector, can suffer. Some industries are notorious for causing employee back injuries, and the railroad is one of them. Railroad employees are at risk for repetitive use type injuries, muscle and nerve injuries, and even back injuries from traumatic accidents. Unfortunately, back injuries are one of the most common types of injuries sustained on the job. They can put employees out of work for quite some time, depending on their type and severity. They can impact their quality of life and their ability to do even mundane tasks and the activities they once enjoyed.
Types of Railroad Worker Back Injuries
The most common cause of back pain is injury. Injuries often happen when you use your back muscles for activities you infrequently do, such as lifting a heavy object. Tripping, falling a short distance, or extreme twisting of the spine can lead to minor injuries. Severe back injuries may result from trauma such as train crashes, falls from significant heights, a high-energy fall onto the buttocks, direct blows to the back or the top of the head, or a penetrating injury such as a stab wound.
The physical requirements of a railroad job can put workers at risk for several different types of back injuries. Spinal cord injuries (SCI), fractures, and paralysis are all common types of back injuries covered by the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). Other examples include:
- Lumbar or lower back pain
- Lower back sprain
- Nerve impingement
- Herniated disc
- Quadriplegia
- Paraplegia
Some railroad workers don’t remember a specific injury, especially if their symptoms have come on gradually or during everyday work activities. These injuries frequently occur from improper movement or posture while sitting, standing, walking, or lifting. Symptoms can include muscle spasms, pain, and stiffness, all of which are frequently attributed to overuse injuries.
What to Do After a Railroad Back Injury
After sustaining any work-related injury, the first thing you should do is seek prompt medical attention. Your health and well-being should always be your primary concern. Once you have received medical attention and are stabilized, there are several steps you should take to protect your rights:
- Explain to your co-workers how and where you were injured. If you can, show them the unsafe condition that led to your injury.
- Complete an accident report identifying the unsafe condition or equipment that caused your back injury.
- Even if you received emergency medical care for your injuries, be sure to see your own physician for follow-up treatment.
- Tell your physician how your injury happened. Tell them about all of your injuries.
- Don’t provide a statement to a claim agent unless you are required to by your Book of Rules or Union contract.
- Notify your union local chairman about your back injury.
- Call a lawyer for help making an informed decision about your injury.
- Call USClaims for financial help while waiting for your settlement.
Do You Need Financial Support After Your Railroad Back Injury?
Railroad back injuries can put individuals out of work for a lengthy time period or even permanently. During this time, your everyday living expenses continue to accrue as do your medical bills. Your lawyer has assured you that it’s just a matter of time before you will receive a settlement, but what if you don’t have time to wait? What if your bills need to be paid now and you have financial obligations you must meet? USClaims can help.
Our company knows what it is like to be awaiting a settlement but not have your bills and expenses waiting as on it as well. We provide pre-settlement funding, also known as lawsuit “loans” to eligible plaintiffs in railroad injury lawsuits. Once approved, we can have your “loan” funded in as little as 24 hours. You don’t need good credit or a certain income level. All you need is an attorney who is willing to work with us and a solid case for recovery.
To find out if you qualify for pre-settlement funding with us, apply online, or call us at 1-877-USCLAIMS today!
USClaims transactions aren’t “loans.” Like other pre-settlement funding providers, USClaims works by purchasing a portion of the anticipated settlement of a case. In doing so, USClaims assumes all the risk; if the plaintiff loses the case, USClaims does not get its money back. If the plaintiff wins the case, the plaintiff’s attorney pays USClaims directly from the proceeds of the settlement.
