Railway workers are routinely required to weld locomotives, box cars, and other various other equipment. Welding is the method used to join two or more objects, typically metals, together. In order to accomplish this, the welder will use a blowtorch to bring the materials to their melting point and then fuse them together. Welding also releases fumes that contain dangerous […]
The Link Between Hexavalent Chromium and Cancer in Railroad Workers
The Hidden Hazards of Toxic Exposure on Railway Workers
Ever since the 1930s, prominent railway companies throughout the United States have, from time to time, come under scrutiny for toxic hazards commonly encountered around and in storage facilities, rail storage, rail yards, and other buildings that are used by most major railroads. Unfortunately, railroad workers are not always aware of the diseases and toxic dangers they are exposed to […]
Railway Workers and Asbestos Exposure
Railway workers have some of the highest rates of mesothelioma due to the fact that they have been exposed to asbestos products that are used throughout locomotives. Long or short-term exposure to the asbestos contained in brakes, insulation, gaskets, and cement can lead to asbestos-related sicknesses in railway workers. How are train workers exposed to asbestos? The Virginia FELA attorneys […]
FELA Basics For Injured Railway Workers
After being declared unconstitutional in 1906, the Federal Employers’ Liability Act was passed again in 1908. Since then, the FELA Act has persevered in the face of constitutionality tests while providing a federal system of economic recovery for railway workers who are killed or injured on the job. What kind of injuries qualify me for a FELA claim? Railway work […]
FELA Attorney Responds to FAQs
The Federal Employers Liability Act was passed by Congress in 1908 due to the important function that the railroad industry played in the growth of interstate commerce. Most people are at least marginally aware of the essential role that railroads played in the evolution of the United States. They paved the way for the settlement and development of the Wild […]
Most Common Injuries Reported While Working for a Railroad
Job-related injuries are common in many professions that involve the use of complex machinery and cramped workspaces. The hazardous nature of railroad work puts the railroad workers are at a greater risk of injuries than most other jobs. Looking at the heightened risk in railroad work, Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) came into effect in 1908 to protect the rights […]
What Qualifies as A Hazardous Safety Condition?
FELA is the exclusive mechanism for railroad workers wanting to bring a compensation claim for their work-related injuries against the railroad company. While a railroad worker can file a FELA in either state or federal court, they must prove negligence on part of the employer to be able to collect the claim. Unlike a workers’ compensation claim, the onus is […]
I Am Suing My Railroad Employer. Where Will My FELA Claim Take Place?
The Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA) is a federal law that provides injured railroad employees a mechanism to seek compensation from their employers. The FELA enforces a stringent liability law on railroads for their employees’ injuries. Workers’ Compensation Claim and FELA Compensation under FELA covers diseases and repetitive stress damage, apart from personal injuries in work-related accidents. As with workers’ […]
Do Railroad Office Workers Have FELA Rights?
Yes, to give the briefest and clearest answer. Any employee of a railroad corporation that engages in interstate commerce has coverage for work-related injuries and occupational illnesses under the law formally known as the Federal Employers Liability Act. LEARN MORE Retired Railroad Workers Can File FELA Claims Are There Damage Limits Under FELA? FELA was enacted in 1908 to protect […]
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 […]