"Cumulative Trauma" is a term used by doctors and lawyers to describe injuries caused by repeated stress to a particular body part. Over the course of their years on the railroad, employees are continually exposed to unsafe working environments, practices, and procedures. These conditions eventually cause significant harm to the body.

For example, we have successfully litigated scores of knee injury cases. In many of these cases, the injured railroad worker suffered cumulative type injuries due to working on uneven surfaces and getting on and off moving or stationary equipment over the course of his or her career. Such injuries include arthritis and meniscal tears. Hearing loss is a another classic example of a cumulative trauma injury.

Railroad employees must be particularly careful not to allow the statute of limitations to expire under the FELA before bringing a cumulative trauma claim. Under the FELA, an injured employee has three (3) years from the date he knew or should have known he was injured as a result of his working environment. Generally, that means that if an injured employee tells his family doctor that he thinks his knee pain is related to his work on the railroad, he must bring a claim for that injury within three (3) years from that doctor's visit. It is especially important to contact Designated Legal Counsel early on, so that your claim can be brought before three years lapses.

If you believe you are suffering as a result of cumulative trauma, you should immediately contact Designated Legal Counsel. You can call us toll-free at 1 (800) 447-7500.