Railroad workers who are injured on the job as a result of their employer’s negligence have the right to file a Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) lawsuit and recover damages. FELA was enacted in 1908 to ensure that railroaders who suffer work-related injuries are adequately compensated by their employers. For well over 100 years, FELA has offered a path for […]
An Overview of a FELA Injury Lawsuit
Common Injuries Suffered in a Railroad Work Environment
It is well known that the risk of work-related injuries is present in several different occupations. In some occupations, however, the risk is more prominent compared to others. Railroad work is one such occupation where workers face a wide range of safety hazards. Due to the nature of the work they do and the fact that they work with heavy […]
Understanding the Impact of Coworker Negligence on Your FELA Claim
One of the unique aspects of the protections the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) provides employees may recover under the Act for injuries caused by their fellow employees. A railroad is responsible for injuries to an employee if the negligence of the railroad contributes “even in the slightest” to the cause of the injury. There is a litany of duties […]
Filing a FELA Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Despite continued calls for railroad safety, railroad workers continue to perform their jobs in often dangerous conditions. These conditions frequently result in serious injuries to workers and even more tragically, their deaths. Last year alone, there were more than 25 railroad workers killed while on the job. Whenever a railroad employee is injured, any compensation is covered under the Federal […]
Why You Need an Experienced Railroad Derailment Lawyer When You Suffer Injuries or Lung Damage From a Train Wreck
No one can feel completely safe when a train goes off the tracks. “Train wreck” did not become shorthand for a disastrous situation for no reason. As Virginia-based railroad injury lawyers for going on 40 years, we have seen firsthand some of the worst results from train derailments. We helped several victims of the Norfolk Southern chemical train crash in […]
Truck Driver Awarded Millions After Railroad Injury Lawsuit
A jury in Tyler, Texas awarded more than $8 million to a truck driver from East Texas who suffered serious injuries in a railroad accident in May 2015. The truck driver was injured while he was unloading a feed truck into a train car at a trans-loading facility in Mt. Vernon, Texas. The railroad conductor told the truck driver to get […]
Jury Awards $4.4 Million to Injured Railroad Worker
After a five day trial in St. Francois County, Missouri, the jury awarded $4.4 million to an injured BNSF Railway worker. According to the lawsuit documents, Rob Hays from Raymore MO was working for BNSF operating a weld truck with a rail replacement crew along the Mississippi River north of Ste. Genevieve. He was driving the truck with a remote […]
Is Your Railroad Cancer Claim Ruined If You Smoked?
Rick Shapiro, a Virginia and North Carolina railroad accident and disease lawyer, talks about the effect of a past smoking habit on your railroad cancer claim. Rick explains that, just because you smoked in the past, does not ruin your claim against the railroad for exposing you to toxic fumes and asbestos fibers.
What To Do If You or a Loved One is Hurt on the Railroad
Randy Appleton, a Virginia and North Carolina railroad accident lawyer, has over 30 years of experience representing injured railroad workers including trainmen, switchmen, engineers, conductors, and so forth. Randy explains what you need to do after a serious accident while working for a big railroad like Norfolk Southern, CSX, Burlington Northern, etc.
Train Conductor Sues Railroad for Personal Injuries
A railroad conductor in Harrisburg PA has sued Delaware and Hudson Railway Company for what he claims are repetitive stress injuries that are allegedly due to his employer’s negligence and failure to provide a safe work environment. The complaint alleges that the former conductor suffered repetitive trauma to his arms and legs by working in an environment that included large […]