FELA

Railroad accidents and injuries

The Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA) is a federal law which provides for employees benefits to those injured around or on trains engaged in interstate commerce. Many exceptions and many rules apply concerning whether something is a covered injury under this particular act. But generally, an injured railroad worker under the F.E.L.A law should be entitled to receive certain damages if the work injury is related to negligence or an equipment defect, such as the cars, engine or track and if the railroad that she or he works for is actually engaged in interstate commerce. A wide range of work injuries may fall under the umbrella of the Federal Employer's Liability Act including exposure to toxins, work noise, repetitive stress injuries, as well as many other injuries and traumas occurring on trains or around them, such as those involving:

High speed rail collisions
Train derailments
Improper operating practices
Hazardous materials exposure
Improper signaling
Crossing accidents
Highway-rail accidents
Dangerous or unsafe platforms
Railway yard accidents
Injuries aboard moving trains
Assaults
Improper signage

Injured or disabled railroad employees are covered under the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA) for compensable injuries, including those employed as:

Trainmasters
Brakemen
Switchmen
Roadmasters
Signal maintenance workers
Carmen
Engineers
Yardmasters
Conductors
Locomotive mechanics

Under FELA, railroad companies may be judged accountable for negligence in failing to:

Enforce safety rules and regulations
Properly prepare for foreseeable weather conditions (like snow removal)
Inspect tools and equipment for safety
Keep the general working environment completely free of any hazards
Provide training, assistance and supervisors within their job functions

If your injuries occurred on near train tracks or around a train, you should immediately consult with a knowledgeable FELA attorney. The lawyers affiliated with Mitchell S. Sexner & Associates LLC will hold those people or parties accountable for the death or injuries that they cause. Our attorneys represent both injured clients and the surviving members of their family in cities across the state of Illinois and have years of legal experience in protecting our client's rights. Should you have questions or concerns that relate to railroad injuries, you can contact Sexner & Associates LLC 24 hours a day.

Contact us for a free consultation
about your FELA injury today

or call (800) 996-4824