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
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 […]
Switchman Who Loses Leg Sues Railroad
A former switchman for Tacoma (WA) Rail has filed a lawsuit against the railroad. He contends that the railroad created a dangerous railroad work environment that contributed to the accident that caused him to lose a leg. Nathan Johnson, 45, from Fife WA, is seeking damages for his pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses. An earlier claim with […]
27 Pedestrian Rail Deaths In Washington State Prompts Safety Campaign
The number of pedestrian rail fatalities in Washington state climbed to 27 in 2015, rail officials stated this week, which has prompted a new safety campaign to warn people about the dangers of railroad tracks and crossings. The new goal for 2016 in the state is zero railroad fatalities. Nationwide, Washington is ranked #9 in train fatalities from Jan-Sept 2015, […]
Ohio Man Dies in Rail Crossing Accident
A man died in Huron Township OH on Nov. 24 after a train smashed into his car at a railroad crossing. The man was driving a 2008 Ford van on Rye Beach Rd. in Huron Township when he approached the railroad tracks south of SR 2. He tried to skirt the railroad crossing gates when a Norfolk Southern train slammed […]
Tired BNSF Employees Complain About 12 Hour Shifts
Some BNSF Railway workers in Whitefish, Montana are warning that they are working 12 hour shits that compromise safety. They claim that the long shifts can lead to extreme fatigue that could cause dangerous situations when hauling hazardous commodities. One BNSF employee told the media that the company had started a new schedule that has workers working for 12 hours […]
Safety Improvements Underway at Deadly TN Railroad Crossing
Work is currently underway at a deadly railroad crossing in Harriman, Tennessee that was the site of a deadly crash that killed two people in 2014. In May 2014, a car was struck by a train at the crossing of US 27 and Mountain View Rd. in Harriman. Several safety improvements were announced early this year, which were funded by […]
20 Year Anniversary of School Bus-Train Crash Remembered
It was 20 years ago on Oct. 25 that a horrifying collision between a Chicago commuter train and a school bus in Fox River Grove IL at a railroad crossing led to the deaths of seven students. Since then, there have been a number of safety improvements at railroad crossings across the US, but accidents can and still do occur. […]
Questions Arise After Fatal Pedestrian/Train Accident
A 16 year-old boy was hit by a train in NW Houston TX last Friday and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police reported that the young man was hit at 8:45 am near West 34th Street and TC Jester in Houston. His body was thrown under a trestle on the bridge that crosses the street White Oak Bayou. Police […]
Family Files Suit for Death at Dangerous Train Crossing Guardrail
By Richard Shapiro, Virginia Railroad Accident Attorney A 22 year-old man from Richmond CA was killed last March when he died at a railroad crossing in this small California town. Media reports stated that the man spent all day and night volunteering at a school, and he then was driving home. He reportedly fell asleep at the wheel and crashed […]