Railroad Workplace Injury Attorneys in Chicago

We Advocate Relentlessly for Injured Railroad Workers

You were doing your job, and now you're hurt. Whether it was a fall from a rail car or a back that finally gave out after years of heavy lifting, the injury is real and the consequences are immediate. 

Under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), you have the right to pursue compensation from your railroad employer, but only if you can prove the railroad's negligence played a role.

At The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon, we represent injured railroad workers throughout the Chicago area. Our team brings decades of experience in corporate defense, and we use that insider knowledge to fight for workers like you. We know how railroads approach these claims, how they build their defenses, and how to take them apart. If you've been hurt on the job, we're ready to fight for you.

If your case involves an occupational illness or cancer linked to toxic exposure at work, please visit our Railroad Workers with Cancer page for information specific to those claims.

We offer free consultations. Call us at (464) 250-9272 or contact us online to speak with a Chicago railroad injury attorney.

Why a Railroad Workplace Injury Claim Is Different from a Standard Workers' Comp Claim

If you work for a covered railroad, you cannot file a standard workers' compensation claim in Illinois. Instead, your injury claim falls under FELA, a federal law that gives you the right to sue your employer for damages in court.

FELA provides broader recovery than workers' compensation. You can pursue compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost future earning capacity, and more. But there's a catch: you must prove that the railroad's negligence contributed to your injury, even in part. You don't have to prove the railroad was solely at fault, but you do have to prove it was at least partly responsible.

Railroad companies are experienced at defending these claims. They have legal teams, safety investigators, and claims adjusters whose job begins the moment you report an injury. Having an experienced FELA attorney in your corner from the start makes a real difference.

Common Railroad Workplace Injuries We Handle

Railroad work is physically demanding. Chicago sits at the center of the U.S. freight rail network, with all six Class I railroads operating in the region and nearly 1,300 trains passing through every day. Risks are constant, and injuries happen across the industry, even to railroad office workers.

The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon handles FELA claims involving a wide range of physical workplace injuries, including:

Traumatic Injuries

• Slip, Trip, & Fall Injuries: Falls from cars, platforms, stairs, and loading docks, often caused by poor lighting, debris, or icy conditions the railroad failed to address.
• Crush Injuries: Caused by couplers, heavy equipment, or freight shifting during loading and unloading operations.
• Struck-by Injuries: Workers hit by moving cars, equipment, or objects in the yard.
• Derailment Injuries: Sudden impacts that cause fractures, head trauma, or spinal injuries.
• Lacerations & Amputations: Often the result of faulty equipment, inadequate guarding, or unsafe yard conditions.

Orthopedic & Musculoskeletal Injuries

• Back Injuries & Herniated Discs: From heavy lifting, falls, or prolonged vibration in locomotive cabs.
• Knee & Shoulder Injuries: Frequently requiring surgery, often tied to the physical demands of track work, climbing, and manual labor.
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & Repetitive Stress Injuries: From years of operating tools, controls, or vibrating equipment.

Other Occupational Injuries

• Hearing Loss & Tinnitus: From sustained exposure to engine noise, horns, and grinding equipment in violation of OSHA standards or railroad safety rules.
• Eye Injuries: From debris, chemical exposure, or inadequate protective equipment.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries: Caused by falls, equipment impacts, or accidents in the field.

The FELA Negligence Standard

FELA is a federal law, which means the rules are the same whether you work for BNSF, Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, CSX, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Amtrak, Metra, or any of the regional and commuter railroads serving the Chicago region.

To win a FELA claim for a railroad injury, your attorney must establish:

• The railroad had a duty to provide you with a reasonably safe place to work.
• The railroad breached that duty by being negligent through unsafe conditions, lack of adequate equipment, poor training, or failure to follow its own safety rules.
• The negligence contributed to your injury, even if you were also partly at fault. FELA uses a comparative fault standard, meaning your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault, not eliminated.
• You suffered damages such medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.

Proving negligence requires thorough investigation. FELA has a three-year statute of limitations from the date of injury. However, waiting creates problems well before that deadline arrives. Evidence disappears. Witnesses' memories fade. The railroad's investigation team has a head start.

Our team works to preserve evidence quickly, review the accident scene, gather maintenance records, interview witnesses, and consult with medical and safety experts as needed.

Why Choose The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon as Your Advocate

Chicago has been the nation's rail hub for close to 150 years. More than 38,000 rail-related jobs exist in Illinois, and the demands placed on those workers are serious. When something goes wrong, you deserve a legal team that understands this industry.

Our founder Attorney Gregory M. McMahon spent over two decades defending major corporations, including Fortune 500 companies, before committing his practice to fighting for injured workers. That background informs how our attorneys investigate, prepare, and argue every case, giving the whole team insight into how railroads build their defenses and exactly where to challenge them.

Here's what working with The Law Office of Gregory M. McMahon looks like in practice:

• Direct attorney contact. You'll work with our attorneys directly, not be handed off to a paralegal or case manager after your first call.
• Clear, honest guidance. We tell you what your case looks like realistically, not what you want to hear.
• No legal fees unless we recover for you. Our firm works on a contingency basis, so there is no cost to get started.
• Experience with the opposition. We understand how railroads approach injury claims and how to counter their standard defenses.

What Compensation Is Available Under FELA?

A successful FELA claim for a physical workplace injury can include compensation for:

• Past and future medical expenses, including surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment
• Lost wages for time you were unable to work
• Diminished earning capacity if the injury affects your ability to work at the same level going forward
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Unlike workers' compensation, FELA does not cap these damages. The amount you may recover depends on the facts of your injury, the extent of the railroad's negligence, and how effectively your case is presented.

Injured on the Railroad? We Are Ready to Fight for What You Deserve.

A workplace injury can change everything: your health, your income, your plans. You have rights under FELA, and we are here to help you pursue them.

Our lawyers serve injured railroad workers throughout the Chicago area, including workers based in Cook County, DuPage County, Will County, and across northeastern Illinois. Our office is located in downtown Chicago at 205 North Michigan Ave., and we offer virtual consultations.

Call (464) 250-9272 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation. We serve railroad workers throughout Chicago and the surrounding region.