If you’ve been hurt while working for a railroad company, you may have already heard from a claim agent. This person may sound friendly, helpful, and even reassuring. They may tell you that you can just sit back and relax while they take care of everything. They might even go so far as to tell you that you don’t need […]
Can You Trust a Railroad Claim Agent with Your Case?
What Steps Should I Take After a Railroad Injury to Protect My FELA Claim?
Train engines, freight cars, grueling conditions, dangerous obstacles, and heavy machinery create substantial dangers for those who earn a living on railroads. Railroad employees are, fortunately, protected by an important federal statute, the Federal Employers’ Liability Act. If you are a railroad worker who was injured on the job, you need to work with an experienced Norfolk FELA lawyer who […]
World Lung Cancer Awareness Day: Understanding the Impact of Asbestos on Railroad Workers and Legal Options
August 1, 2025, is World Lung Cancer Awareness Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about lung cancer and highlighting the importance of early detection, prevention, and treatment. For many people, lung cancer is an unfortunate reality that they have to face, but for certain occupational groups, the risk of developing lung cancer is significantly heightened due to exposure to […]
How Do I Properly Document My Railroad Worker Injury?
If you sustained an injury as a railroad worker, documenting every single detail of the incident is essential for building a strong case. Whether the injury was the result of long-term exposure to harmful chemicals, hazardous working environments, or a serious accident, the way you choose to document the claim will play a significant part in the outcome. Appropriate documentation […]
What Railroad Executives Knew About Asbestos and When They Knew It
Our Virginia-based FELA law firm has collected an extensive archive of documents showing that leaders in the railroad industry possessed significant knowledge about the dangers of asbestos as early as the 1920s. Doctors who were employed and consulted by rail corporations openly discussed the link between occupational exposures to asbestos and deadly diseases during annual conferences. Written recommendations to spray […]
Most Dangerous Railroad Jobs for Asbestos Exposure
The question of where a railroad worker suffered harmful exposures to asbestos on the job always comes up in cases concerning mesothelioma and other lung diseases. My colleagues and I never fail to hear this from clients, who honestly want to know. We also hear it from opposing attorneys defending railroad corporations who want to “prove” that worksites were safe […]
What is the Federal Employers Liability Act?
Since the early 1800s, the railroad industry has been a critical part of our country’s development and growth, making coast-to-coast transportation of people, goods, and supplies possible. While railroads are vital to both travel and commerce, their substantial size and speed pose considerable risks to employees. Additionally, railway employees are frequently exposed to hazardous working conditions, including toxic chemicals and […]
Can Railroad Workers Sue for Cancer If They Smoked?
When John, a long-time railroad worker, was diagnosed with lung cancer, his world turned upside down. He had spent decades working around trains, rail yards, and railroad equipment—but he’d also smoked for many years. Now, faced with this frightening diagnosis, he couldn’t help but wonder: Was it just the cigarettes? Or could it have been something else, like asbestos? His […]
History of Railroad Injury Law in Virginia
Virginia has rich history in railroading and it is historically an area where there are also many railroad injury lawyers. Norfolk & Western Railway Company, now Norfolk Southern, has been based in Norfolk, Virginia for many years and our law office is a mere 20 minutes away. Also, CSX Transportation, which was previously Atlantic Coastline, and Seaboard and also merged […]
What Starts the Ticking of the FELA Statute of Limitations Clock?
Note: This information on how personal injury attorneys handle cancer cases involving rail employees is adapted from railroad injury/FELA attorney Rick Shapiro’s July 2011 invited lecture to the American Association for Justice Railroad Law Section. Here, he shares his expertise on how the FELA statute of limitations affects occupational disease and wrongful death lawsuits for rail workers who developed cancers […]