Railroad Worker Injury Lawsuit

Working for the railroad is an inherently dangerous job. Every year, hundreds of railroad workers are seriously injured or killed.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting railroad worker injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was injured on the job, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our FELA Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Railroad Injury Lawsuits

Railroad injury lawsuits are different from regular injury lawsuits. Your attorney must file the lawsuits under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA).

What is FELA?

When Congress passed FELA in 1908, they gave injured railroad workers the right to sue railroad companies for negligence that caused an injury. Accidents can occur due to faulty equipment, improper tools, unsafe working conditions, or exposure to toxic substances carried on the train.

Employees Who Qualify for FELA

Locomotive engineers
Conductors
Brakemen
Signalmen
Yardmasters
Maintenance of way workers
Trainmen
Other railroad employees not involved with trains

Railroads Must Protect Your Safety

By law, railroad companies must provide a reasonably safe place to work. That includes providing safety equipment, proper tools, training, inspecting the workplace for hazards, enforcing safety regulations, providing enough workers to do a job safely, and more.

Common Railroad Worker Injuries

Amputations
Back injuries
Ballast injuries
Broken bones
Burns
Cancer
Hearing loss
Head injuries
Heavy lifting injuries
Joint injuries
Lacerations
Repetitive-motion injuries
Slips and falls
Toxic chemical exposure

What Should I Do?

If you were injured, report your injury to your supervisor. If any coworkers witnessed the accident, they will be essential to your case. If required to do so, fill out a report that lists anything that could have contributed to your injury. If you need to see a doctor, make sure you keep track of your medical bills. Keep track of your out-of-pocket expenses, lost wages, gas mileage, and more.

Should I Hire a Lawyer?

You can work with the railroad’s claims agent, but there is a risk you will be pressured into a quick settlement. This could be less than what you would receive if you had a lawyer to advocate for your case.

Important Note: You are not required hire a union railroad lawyer. You can hire an independent lawyer, not affiliated with the railroad, to fight for your individual rights.

Time-Limit to File a Lawsuit

If you are a railroad worker injured on the job, it is essential that you contact a qualified railroad injury lawyer immediately. Many states have very short statutes of limitations for filing a railroad worker injury lawsuit. Once the statute of limitations passes, you will not be eligible for compensation for your injury.

Do I have a Railroad Worker Injury Lawsuit?

Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.