Frozen Handbrakes—The High Price Railroaders Pay for Skipped Inspections

Frozen Handbrakes—The High Price Railroaders Pay for Skipped Inspections

Every single component on a railcar is subject to wear, tear, and weathering. That is exactly why federal safety laws mandate that railroad companies regularly inspect, maintain, and repair handbrakes. When a railroad cuts corners on maintenance, those handbrakes can freeze up or fail to release, turning a standard mechanical task into a career-ending hazard.

A recent lawsuit filed in El Paso County, Texas on behalf of a BNSF employee by Doyle Dennis Avery LLP and the Youngdahl Law Firm, P.C.  highlights this exact danger.

A BNSF employee was tasked with releasing a handbrake on a railcar in El Paso. He applied normal, usual pressure to turn and release the mechanism, but the handbrake completely failed to operate. Because the frozen handbrake refused to budge under normal operational pressure, the worker suffered severe, debilitating injuries to his lower back and groin.

Failing to Inspect is a Violation of Federal Law

To demand justice for this safety failure, Doyle Dennis Avery LLP and The Youngdahl Law Firm brought a lawsuit on behalf of their injured railroad client against BNSF Railway Company.

Under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) and the Federal Safety Appliance Act (FSAA), a railroad’s failure to provide efficient, working handbrakes is a direct statutory violation. BNSF is legally required to implement safe methods for the periodic inspection and maintenance of these handbrakes. When a handbrake fails to operate under normal pressure, it is legally considered defective, and the railroad can be held strictly accountable for negligence.

Facing a Career-Limiting Injury?

Injuries to the lower back and groin can cause long-term physical impairment, severe chronic pain, and massive stress and anxiety regarding your future income. Railroads often claim that an employee simply “pulled too hard,” but the law states that a worker should never have to fight a defective piece of machinery just to do their job.

If you have been injured by a frozen, defective, or malfunctioning handbrake, you have the right to seek significant monetary relief for your medical care, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity. Reach out to a FELA litigation team at Contact an experienced FELA litigation team at Doyle Dennis Avery LLP and the Youngdahl Law Firm, P.C. that knows how to go toe-to-toe with major carriers like BNSF.