Amtrak employee injured on the job files complaint

A New Jersey man who alleges he injured himself on railroad tracks while working for Amtrak is suing the National Railroad Passenger Corp.

Philadelphia attorney James M. Duckworth, of the firm Keller & Goggin, P.C., filed the personal injury claim July 25 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Ryan Vilardi, of Forked River, N.J.

According to the complaint, Vilardi was working as a mechanic for Amtrak on Aug. 19, 2010, when, while walking down the train tracks, he tripped over loose ballast and fell into a hole, causing serous physical injuries.

As a result of the accident, Vilardi suffered a broken fibula and a sprained ankle, the lawsuit claims. The incident has caused Vilardi to undergo great physical pain and mental anguish.

Because of the accident, Vilardi has been obliged to spend large sums of money on medical care, the suit states. He has also suffered a loss of earnings and earning capacity.

The lawsuit accuses Amtrak of negligence and carelessness for failing to provide the plaintiff with a safe place to work, failing to warn Vilardi of the unsafe and dangerous condition and failing to maintain the area in a condition that would safeguard the plaintiff and others.

Vilardi demands judgment against Amtrak in a sum in excess of $50,000.

A jury trial has been demanded.

The case number is 110702387.