Virginia FELA Attorneys Explain What to Do and What Not to Do When Injured While Working for a Railroad | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

Railroad injuries in Virginia are often traumatic and serious.  Here is a quick check list from our experienced Virginia railroad injury lawyers:

  • DO call a union-designated lawyer.
  • DO call your local chairman.
  • DO have your spouse go to a family doctor or specialist besides the company-selected doctor.
  • DO locate all pertinent insurance, disability and legal papers.
  • DO NOT speak to any railroad claims agent except to obtain the company representative’s name and phone number for your records. Give NO information out.
  • DO NOT give any recorded or written statements to any claims agents about what occurred to you or your spouse.
  • DO understand that the railroad will do surveillance and snoop on you, your spouse and your home.
  • DO NOT allow your injured spouse to try to do anything inconsistent with his or her injuries. Be careful of scams such as someone knocking on your door and asking for help with a flat tires or overheated car engine.
  • DO be sure you, your spouse or your lawyer contacts any known witnesses (get phone numbers and addresses) as soon as possible to confirm the presence of defective rail equipment, unsafe work practice or other evidence of company negligence or regulatory violations.
  • DO preserve any work clothing, equipment, work papers, medical devices, braces or other evidence of your injury and be prepared to provide them to your lawyer.
  • DO determine if injuries occurred nearby: Can a co-worker or designated lawyer get photos or video of scene or equipment?
  • DO obtain and save all phone numbers, addresses and specialties of each doctor and medical care provider you see for treatment and therapy following the injury and be prepared to provide this information to your lawyer.
  • DO check or have your lawyer confirm that railroad DOES NOT have a medical records release allowing it to call spouse’s doctor and/or to get medical records! Notify key medical providers that confidential records may be released only through lawyer permission.

 

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