North Platte is a railroad town — home to Union Pacific's Bailey Yard, the largest railroad classification yard in the world. Spanning over 2,800 acres, Bailey Yard operates 24 hours a day and is the economic heartbeat of North Platte and Lincoln County. Beyond the railroad, North Platte's economy is built on agriculture, ranching, transportation, and healthcare, with its strategic position at the intersection of Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 83 making it a logistics crossroads for central Nebraska.

Whether you're a railroad worker at Bailey Yard, a truck driver passing through the I-80 corridor, a rancher in Lincoln County, or a healthcare worker at Great Plains Health — if you've been injured on the job, you need an attorney who understands the unique workplace hazards of North Platte. Johnson Tabor & Johnson represents injured workers throughout North Platte and western Nebraska.

Our senior partner spent over 40 years as defense counsel for major insurance carriers. He knows exactly how insurers evaluate workplace injury claims in North Platte and across Nebraska — and what it takes to win.

Call (402) 506-4444Free Consultation

Key Industries & Workplace Hazards in North Platte

North Platte workers face industry-specific risks that require an attorney who understands both the hazards and the insurance tactics used to deny claims. Here are the industries driving workplace injuries in the North Platte area:

Railroad (Union Pacific Bailey Yard)

Bailey Yard is the world's largest rail classification yard, employing hundreds of Union Pacific workers. Railroad workers face severe hazards: being struck by trains or equipment, falls from railcars and platforms, hearing loss from locomotive noise, repetitive stress injuries from coupling operations, and exposure to diesel exhaust and industrial chemicals.

Transportation & Logistics

North Platte's I-80 location makes it a natural stopping point for commercial trucking. Truck drivers, warehouse workers, and logistics employees face road accidents, loading dock injuries, and repetitive strain injuries.

Agriculture & Ranching

Lincoln County is cattle country. Ranchers, feedlot workers, and farm employees face livestock handling injuries, equipment accidents, and exposure hazards. The surrounding agricultural economy is a major source of workplace injuries.

Healthcare

Great Plains Health is North Platte's regional hospital, serving a large area of central and western Nebraska. Healthcare workers face patient lifting injuries, needlestick exposures, and workplace violence.

 Our Insurance Defense Background Works for You. Our senior partner spent over 40 years defending insurance carriers in cases just like yours. We know how insurers evaluate North Platte workplace injury claims, what tactics they use to minimize payouts, and how to beat them. That insider knowledge now works for injured workers in North Platte and Lincoln County.

North Platte Workers Deserve Full Benefits

Railroad injuries present unique legal complexities. While many railroad workers are covered under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) rather than state workers' compensation, not all railroad-related injuries fall under FELA — particularly for contractors, subcontractors, and non-railroad employees who work at or near Bailey Yard. Understanding which law applies to your situation is critical to maximizing your recovery. Our attorneys evaluate every North Platte workplace injury to determine whether your claim falls under Nebraska workers' comp, FELA, or potentially both.

Nebraska workers' compensation provides medical benefits, temporary and permanent disability benefits, vocational rehabilitation, and mileage reimbursement. For a full breakdown of available benefits, visit our Nebraska Workers' Compensation Benefits Explained page. To learn more about the steps to take after an injury, see our What to Do After a Workplace Injury guide.

If your claim has been denied, don't give up — visit our Appeals & Denied Claims page. And if a third party contributed to your injury, you may be entitled to additional compensation through a third-party liability claim.

Serving North Platte and Lincoln County

Johnson Tabor & Johnson represents injured workers in North Platte, Hershey, Maxwell, Sutherland, Brady, Gothenburg, Ogallala, and surrounding Lincoln County communities.

No matter where you work in the North Platte area, our attorneys are ready to fight for your benefits. Workers' compensation cases are filed with the statewide Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court — not a local court — so our Omaha-based firm handles cases across the entire state with the same aggressiveness and attention to detail.

Frequently Asked Questions: Workers' Comp in North Platte

It depends on your employment status. Union Pacific employees are generally covered under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), not Nebraska workers' compensation. However, contractors, subcontractors, and non-railroad employees working at or near Bailey Yard may be covered by Nebraska workers' comp. Understanding which law applies is critical — contact an attorney for a free evaluation.

Common railroad yard injuries include being struck by trains, railcars, or equipment; falls from railcars and elevated platforms; crush injuries from coupling operations; hearing loss from locomotive noise; repetitive stress injuries from manual labor; and respiratory conditions from diesel exhaust and chemical exposure.

It depends on whether the employer carries workers' compensation insurance. Nebraska exempts certain agricultural operations from mandatory coverage. However, many larger ranch and feedlot operations do carry coverage. If your employer is uninsured, you may have a personal injury claim. Contact us for a free evaluation.

The Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) covers railroad employees specifically. Unlike workers' comp (which is no-fault), FELA requires proving the railroad's negligence contributed to your injury. However, FELA can provide significantly greater compensation — including pain and suffering and full lost wages. An attorney can help determine which law applies to your case.

At Johnson Tabor & Johnson, we handle workers' compensation and personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and no fees unless we win. Your consultation is free.