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.
Brandywine is an unincorporated town located on U.S. Highway 33 in Pendleton County, West Virginia, USA. The town lies along the South Fork South Branch Potomac River at its confluence with Hawes Run. Located nearby within the George Washington National Forest is the Brandywine Recreation Area which includes Brandywine Lake, a reservoir on Hawes Run created by the South Fork Structure Number 13 Dam.