Locomotive Engineer Recovers $725,000 for Cumulative Back Injury Under FELA

Railroad workers who develop back problems over the course of a career may have a legal claim under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), even when no single accident caused the injury. In this case, a locomotive engineer sustained a serious low back injury as a direct result of prolonged whole-body vibration exposure from years of operating locomotives with poor ride quality and inadequate seating. Because the injury developed gradually, Brown & Crouppen pursued a cumulative trauma claim under FELA, which required meticulous documentation of the engineer’s occupational exposure over time. The engineer ultimately required surgery and was permanently unable to return to work, and Brown & Crouppen fought to secure full compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and the lasting impact of a career-ending occupational injury.