In April 2016, an Amtrak engineer was on duty. Just before 8 a.m., the man operating a train saw a potential hazard on the tracks ahead of him. There was an accident and the man suffered severe emotional trauma and subsequent disability that he says was the result of the incident. As has occurred following other Connecticut railroad accidents in the past, the man has sought legal accountability against his employer.

As it turns out, what the engineer saw on the tracks that day was a backhoe. Surprisingly, it was in operation on the exact same track as the moving locomotive. At that point in time, the train was reportedly soaring at 106 mph. The engineer thrust the train into emergency mode and laid on the horn.

Unfortunately, attempts to avert a collision were not successful. The train smashed into the backhoe, which then struck an Amtrak supervisor. The engineer has apparently been unable to return to work since the collision. He is said to be suffering from severe post-traumatic stress disorder and other physical symptoms that reportedly developed from psychological trauma associated with the incident.

Before the accident occurred, the engineer was earning $150,000 per year on the job. He has filed a claim stating Amtrak broke many FELA regulations and failed to provide for his safety on the job. Whether employers will be held liable for worker injuries following railroad accidents depends on various factors, in particular, whether the court or a jury is convinced that evidence exists proving negligence. A Connecticut attorney experienced in FELA litigation is able to help an injured worker gather needed evidence and present a case in court.

Source: pennrecord.com, “Ex-Amtrak engineer says company violated FELA in train collision with backhoe“, Nicholas Malfitano, Sept. 6, 2017