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 […]
New Study Suggests Safer Alternative Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma
The results of a study examining the safety and efficacy of radiation treatments for patients who have been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma cancer in the pleural lining of the lungs) was recently published in the medical journal, Practical Radiation Oncology. The team of researchers concluded that proton therapy for pleural mesothelioma may be a safer alternative from standard radiotherapy […]
What Is Asbestos Induced Mesothelioma Cancer And How Is It Diagnosed?
Mesothelioma is an aggressive and incurable cancer that develops in the mesothelium – a layer of tissue that covers the internal organs. In a vast majority of cases, mesothelioma tends to affect the lungs. It can, in some cases, also affect the abdominal cavity, heart, or the testicles. Every year, over 3,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with […]
Overview of the Legal Elements That Must Be Met for an Asbestosis Claim Under the FELA
We recently received a favorable verdict in a case we handled for the estate of a Norfolk Southern carman who passed away from asbestosis and heart disease. After the verdict was returned several of his coworkers were concerned they may suffer from the disease and contacted our office with some questions regarding their risk of developing asbestosis. There is some […]
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 […]
What Are a Victim’s Legal Options if Injured in a Train Crash?
According to the National Transportation Safety Bureau, a person or vehicle is hit by a train every two hours. Approximately 1,000 people are killed each year in train-related accidents. This number has seen a steady increase each year since 1997. Some of the more common types of train accidents include: Train-car crashes Train-person crash Train-train crash Derailment National statistics […]
Important Info You Need to Know When Injured on the Railroad
Health Hazards of Working Around Diesel Engines
In 1890 the first patent for a diesel engine was issued. Over the next century, more and more industries incorporated this type of engine in equipment and vehicles. One of the main reasons for its popularity was that diesel engines were more energy efficient than engines that ran on gasoline. Diesel fuel releases less CO2 carbon emissions than gasoline fuel. […]
Norfolk Jury Returns $5 Million Verdict in Favor of Client Who Passed Away from Asbestos-Related Lung Disease
Our client, a carman, worked at Norfolk Southern’s Lambert’s Point car repair shop for more than a decade. He serviced and changed out asbestos-containing brake shoes at the shop year in and year out breathing in toxic asbestos fibers. After nearly ten years, Norfolk Southern hired abatement contractors to remove asbestos from the car shop. Our client subsequently became very […]