If you are a railyard worker who was injured on the job, you may have a railroad injury lawsuit. The Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA) has existed for more than a century, and it protects the rights and health of railroad workers.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting FELA induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured in a railyard, 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 Worker Injury Lawsuits
Railroad worker injury lawsuits seek fair financial compensation for injuries and deaths that occur to railroad employees on the job. If you are a family member of a railyard worker who died on the job, you can also file a FELA lawsuit on behalf of your loved one.
FELA Lawsuits
The Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA) provides protection that is similar to worker’s compensation to thousands of railyard workers. FELA was established in 1908 when Congress decided to provide railyard workers with a system to recover financial compensation for injuries suffered by railroad workers while on the job.
Family Members and Other Employees Also Qualify
FELA protection also extends to employees whose work was not performed in or around trains, so long as they were employed by a railroad company. Family members of railyard workers who died on the job can also file a FELA lawsuit seeking compensation and justice for their loved one’s death.
No Cap on FELA Damages
Damages recovered in FELA lawsuits are typically higher than traditional worker’s compensation lawsuits, because railroad injuries are often more severe than other workplace injuries. It is not uncommon for settlements to be several million dollars. The monetary awards that you may be entitled to receive are not capped.
Hire an Experienced FELA Lawyer
If you were injured in a railroad accident, it is important to hire an experienced FELA attorney who knows railroad law. You may be disabled from your injury, with bills piling up. The attorney working on your behalf must show that your injury was caused by an act of negligence from the railroad company, its employees, or an equipment manufacturer.
Railroad Companies Must Protect Your Safety
Railroad companies have a legal obligation to protect their employees from injury and death. They must provide training, supervision, and a reasonably safe workplace that complies with safety regulations. If a railroad company fails to conform to these standards and an injury occurs, they may be financially liable for the injury with a FELA lawsuit.
When Was FELA Established?
Working around trains is hard work, and an inherently dangerous job. When President Benjamin Harrison enacted FELA in 1908, he compared the dangers of the railyard to the dangers soldiers faced in war.
Hazards of Railroad Work
People working around trains are responsible for using heavy machinery to load, unload, and shift cargo and supplies. Mechanical switches and levers could potentially pinch, crush, or sever limbs. Moving trains can sever limbs or kill a railyard worker with ease.
The cargo inside these trains may leak toxic chemicals, acids, or fumes, potentially causing severe burns, lung damage, or death. The cargo may also be flammable or explosive, which increases the risk of an explosion that could cause burns and death. Trains can become derailed or collide.
Types of Railroad Worker Injuries
- Hearing loss
- Back and neck injuries
- Toxic chemical exposure (including asbestos)
- Lung damage from inhaling fumes
- Repetitive motion injuries
- Amputation
- Burns
- Slip and fall injuries
- Electrocution
- Bone fractures
- Crushing injuries
Time-Limit to File a Lawsuit
If you have suffered any type of injury while working in a railyard, you have a limited amount of time before you can file a FELA lawsuit. Once the statute of limitations has passed, you are no longer eligible for a FELA injury lawsuit. It is important to contact a lawyer as quickly as possible before this deadline passes.
Do I have a FELA Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting FELA induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured in a railyard, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our FELA Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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