Railroad worker injuries are covered under the Federal Employees Liability Act which requires that a railroad maintains their fleet, ensuring that their trains are in good working order and free of defects. If a railroad does not comply with these standards, they may be liable for injuries to their workers. Damages railroad workers may receive include medical treatments, present and future lost wages and mental trauma. An injury on the railway can range from a minor sprain to a spinal injury so severe that it leads to death. Some of the most common injuries that affect railway workers are head trauma, knee injuries, back injuries, neck injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, brain trauma or spinal cord injuries. The Federal Employees Liability Act protects railroad workers and others as diverse as clerical employees whose day-to-day functions do not directly involve trains or outdoor activity.
East Amherst is a hamlet, or unincorporated community. It straddles Transit Road, which in addition to being a major thoroughfare, serves as the boundary separating the towns of Amherst and Clarence in Erie County, New York, United States of America. East Amherst covers approximately 15 square miles (39 km) and is contained entirely within the perimeter of ZIP code 14051 (The nearby hamlet of Swormville also shares this ZIP code with East Amherst).