Corporate Accountability: Why Lawsuits Matter
How Railroad Workers Have Forced Safety Reforms by Standing Up for Their Rights
Every day, railroad workers put their safety on the line to keep trains running and freight moving. And while the railroads say safety is their top priority, history tells a different story: real change often comes only after a worker is injured and a jury holds the railroad accountable.
Why Lawsuits Matter for More than Just One Worker
When a worker is injured on the job, a lawsuit isn’t just about getting money for lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering for that worker. A lawsuit is also a powerful tool to force railroads to change unsafe practices and prevent future injuries. Why? Because railroads are corporations and their decisions are driven by money. Worker safety complaints are often ignored if fixing them costs too much or slows operations. But when a jury orders a railroad to pay for the full and fair damages suffered by an employee, the railroad pays attention. The railroad often changes its policies to avoid being held responsible again. Time and again, lawsuits and jury verdicts against railroads have done more to improve worker safety than any memo or meeting.
Examples of Change Through Litigation
Safer Walkways and Railyard Conditions
Before Lawsuits:
Workers slipped on icy walkways, tripped over debris, and fell through broken platforms. Complaints went nowhere. Railroads said fixing these problems would cost too much or take too long.
After Juries Held Railroads Accountable:
Railroads cleared walkways, removed debris, repaired uneven surfaces, and started regular inspection schedules they had ignored for years.
Safer Tools and Equipment
Before Lawsuits:
Workers were given outdated, broken, or unsafe tools. Safety equipment was old or missing entirely. Requests for better equipment were denied.
After Lawsuits Exposed These Problems:
Railroads modernized their tools and equipment to avoid future liability. This made all workers safer, not just the one who sued.
Improved Communication and Job Briefings
Before Lawsuits:
Workers were sent out without clear instructions. Nobody explained the dangers of the job or made sure everyone understood their role. Communication breakdowns led directly to injuries.
After Cases Exposed Communication Failures:
Railroads implemented structured pre-shift safety briefings. Now workers know their role, understand the risks, and have a chance to ask questions before the shift begins. This simple change has prevented numerous injuries.
Protection for Workers Who Report Safety Hazards
The Federal Railroad Safety Act (FRSA)
FRSA stands for Federal Railroad Safety Act. It is a law that protects your right to speak up about safety problems without getting fired, demoted, or punished in any way.
Not all lawsuits result from a worker getting physically hurt. If you report an unsafe condition or an injury, and then the railroad retaliates against you through discipline, bad assignments, reduced hours, harassment, or termination you can bring a lawsuit under FRSA.
FRSA lawsuits have forced railroads to revise internal policies and train managers and supervisors on whistleblower protections. The message is clear: retaliating against workers will cost railroads money.
What Counts as Retaliation
- Getting written up or suspended after reporting a safety issue
- Being assigned to worse jobs or shifts
- Having your hours cut
- Being harassed or threatened by supervisors
- Getting fired or forced to quit
Your Case Protects More than Just You
It’s easy to think a lawsuit is only about one person and one injury. But every time a worker stands up and holds the railroad responsible, it sends a message that safety shortcuts are not acceptable. A lawsuit can mean the next worker does not suffer the same fate, and the railroad must fix what it should have fixed years ago. Our firm is not just dedicated to helping injured workers recover what they’re owed, but to change the way railroads treat safety.
Injured on the Railroad? Contact Us.
Remember: if you are hurt while working on the railroad, you do not have to face it alone. We have spent years fighting for railroad workers and holding the railroads responsible for injuries caused by their carelessness. Unfortunately, railroads only pay attention when they are forced to pay money, and our firm has a proven track record of making them do exactly that. If you are injured, do not hesitate to contact our award-winning railroad trial lawyers at Schlichter Bogard. The consultation is free.