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FELA and Railroad Accidents

Get Your Life Back On Track! Hire Experienced FELA and Railroad Accidents Attorneys

railroad tracksWorking in the railroad industry is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Every year, thousands of railroad workers are seriously injured or even killed in train accidents, despite the safety measures engineered into trains.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration, half of the railroad accidents are attributed to unprotected crossings and lack of warning devices. In such incidences, the company may be held liable for failing to keep its employees and the public safe.

Types of Train Accidents

Generally, these types of accidents are hard to avoid because the train drivers or security personnel do not have adequate time to react. They include:

  • Train collision or derailment
  • Railroad worker injuries
  • Train workers exposed to toxic or hazardous materials
  • Train derails carrying toxic or hazardous materials
  • Railroad crossing accidents

Causes of Railroad Accidents

Several factors contribute to train accidents:

  • Carrier failing to establish a safe working environment
  • Failure to conduct frequent inspections
  • Overworking employees, creating an unsafe work environment
  • Using improper equipment
  • Not providing adequate training to employees
  • Exposing employees to toxic substances
  • Not properly marking or maintaining railroad crossings
  • Poor maintenance of trains or equipment
  • Not maintaining train crossings

Railroad Injury Lawsuits

Unlike the most common injury lawsuits, such as state worker's compensation claims and state automobile personal injury lawsuits, railroad injury lawsuit claims are filed under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA). FELA is a law that was passed by the US government in 1908, to protect railroad employees from accidents when in the line of duty.

Who Qualifies for Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)

If you are a yardmaster, conductor, brakemen, locomotive engineer, signalman, maintenance worker, trainmen, or a railroad employee not involved with trains, contact a FELA attorney to represent you.

Why You Should Not Deal Directly With the Insurance Company

Those injured by the Railroad have a mistaken impression that they can obtain more compensation in less time if they do not hire an attorney to represent them. However, in the real sense, dealing with any insurance company directly doesn't allow the injured person the "complete control of the situation." Instead, it only leaves them at the mercy of the FELA claim agent seeking to pay them as little as possible.

It is also worth noting that an insurance company normally has one goal in mind protecting the bottom line of their company. They are working for the best interest of the insurance company - not yours, and will pay as little as possible or deny your claim.

Consult an Attorney to Help You File Your Claim

Persons injured in a train accident often suffer physical hardships and extreme financial losses, and many times they are left to deal with the expenses. However, to protect your legal rights and receive full accident compensation, it's advisable for you to seek the help of a Railroad Worker Injury-FELA attorney to assist you in documenting and building your case, as well as offer practical guidance in understanding the process of compensation.

Our attorneys will stop at nothing to get you the compensation you deserve. So, get your life back and hire an attorney to represent you. Call us today at (804) 271-1969 to schedule your free consultation. Our friendly and bilingual support staff is ready to answer all your questions.

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