If you are employed by a railroad company, then you are already aware that your industry is the backbone of the United States transportation system. Unfortunately, you probably are also aware of how dangerous your job can be. It is a hard and essential job, but unfortunately, many workers risk their health and wellness every day to make sure it […]
How Do I Choose a FELA Attorney After a Train Accident?
Are Railroads Required to Obey OSHA?
In specific situations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has jurisdiction over health and safety issues in railroad workplaces. Starting in 1978, the Federal Railroad Administration has acknowledged that OSHA’s proficiency in job site safety pertains to the railway industry. What government agency is in charge of railroad safety requirements? The Virginia railroad injury lawyers at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp […]
Your Spouse was Injured on the Railroad – Overview of What To Do
For both railroad employees and their spouses, it is extremely important to have a general understanding of what is involved if the railroad worker suffers an injury while on the job. If a worker is seriously injured on the railroad, many responsibilities may fall on the spouse. For example, the spouse of the injured worker may suddenly be forced to […]
How Does the FELA Claims Process Work?
Before workers’ compensation laws existed in every state, the Federal Employer’s Liability Act was developed to protect railroad workers. If you were injured on the job as a railroad worker, a FELA attorney can help you successfully navigate the claims process. Who can I turn to after being injured on the job as a railroad worker? Since railroads travel over […]
Automated Train Operation A Cause For Concern
In recent years, the rapid evolution of automated vehicles has been a mainstay in the news as people either welcome the technology or raise concerns about safety. While all this is going on, railways companies have been working diligently behind closed doors on Automatic Train Operation, an innovation that could forever change how cargo is shipped across the United States. […]
Is the Railroad Staffing Shortage Affecting Worker Safety?
All across the United States, staffing shortages are crippling major industries. The problem is especially critical on the railroads where indications of a strike nearly shut down services and paralyzed the economy. These worker shortages are not good for safety or for business on railroads where current conditions already have employees stretched to their breaking point. In September, a standoff […]
Virginia FELA Attorney: Railroad Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuits
A recent ruling by a federal judge could benefit many asbestos disease victims and their families who file mesothelioma cancer lawsuits, allowing the plaintiff’s attorneys to call four expert witnesses to help prove liability. The asbestos cancer lawsuit was filed by the wife of a man who developed the rare and lethal form of asbestos inducted mesothelioma cancer. In the […]
Is There a Cap on Damages for FELA Claims?
There are no limits on the recovery of compensation in FELA claims. To seek damages, a railroad injury attorney may factor in current as well as future wages, and other non-economic losses to the railroad worker. Juries award compensation in FELA lawsuits in proportion to the injuries and the degree of negligence. Factors That Affect the Value of Damages in […]
Is a Railroad Employee Protected by The FELA Only When They Clock In?
Railroad workers across the country expose themselves to the perils and hazards of their job every day. Railroad employees who are victims of an accident at work, whether in a railyard, on a track, or in an office, can take recourse in FELA to claim compensation for their injuries. FELA applies in all cases where the employee works for a […]
A Contractor For My Railroad Caused My Injury. Does The FELA Statute Still Apply?
Contract work is widely pervasive on a railroad, be it tree trimming, snow plowing, or crew transport. Contractors on a railroad are an unavoidable necessity. With the railroad outsourcing much of its work, the worksites inevitably will have some workers who are not very well-versed with the railroad work method. And when many of these people are working together, the […]