Railroad Worker Injury Lawyer – FELA Lawsuits

As a railroad worker, you help our country’s economy thrive, and your efforts allow people to travel to work every day. At Dolman Law Group, we understand how vital your job is but also how dangerous it can be. Our railroad worker injury lawyers proudly serve injured railroad employees and help them recover the compensation they need after a railroad work-related injury or illness. Dolman Law Group can help you start your FELA lawsuit today.

While most US employees are covered by workers’ compensation benefits when they are injured on the job, standard workers’ comp laws don’t apply to common carriers like railroads and their employees. If you or a loved one are injured while working for a railroad company, or if you are diagnosed with a work-related illness, you must bring legal action against your employer to recover the compensation you deserve. 

Also, under typical workers’ compensation laws, injured employees do not have to prove who was at fault for their injuries. However, as a railroad employee, you will need to show that your employer acted negligently and those actions contributed to your injuries. This is not an easy task. This process may require substantial evidence and savvy legal arguments. 

Trust an experienced personal injury lawyer at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, to help you build a strong case and recoup the financial compensation you deserve after a railroad work-related injury or illness. We have extensive knowledge about the federal rules that affect railroad workers and we are here to protect your rights under the laws that regulate the railroad industry. 

Why Dolman Law Group is Your Best Ally After a Railroad Injury

Our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys offers more than 120 years of combined legal experience to every injury victim we serve. Personal injury is all we do, and we do it extremely well. Our case results speak for themself, with more than $400 million recovered for deserving accident survivors and the families of those who lost a loved one in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence.

The compassionate railroad worker injury attorneys at Dolman Law Group have one mission: to help you receive the maximum amount of compensation allowed by law under your unique circumstances. We only represent injury and illness victims and devote our vast resources to building strong liability cases on behalf of our clients. 

To join our family of satisfied clients, reach out today for a free consultation.

Who Our Railroad Worker Injury Lawyers Serve

As a railroad worker or common carrier employee, you play a vital role in our country’s economy and train passenger safety. Your job is not easy and can be very dangerous at times. Railroad workers face physically challenging situations that can result in traumatic injuries or repetitive movement problems and possible exposure to toxic substances that can lead to long-term medical concerns. 

Unlike most other workers who can file a workers’ compensation claim against their employer’s insurance carrier, railroad employees are not covered by workers’ compensation laws. Instead, if you are injured on the job or develop a work-related illness, you must bring a separate legal action against your employer under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). 

FELA applies to all railroad employees, including:

• Engineers
• Conductors
• Car men
• Track men
• Machinists
• Maintenance workers
• Signal maintenance workers
• Yardmasters
• Carpenters, bridge builders, welders, and
• Most other railroad laborers.

Although workers’ comp claims do not require proving who was at fault for a workplace injury, FELA rules state that injured railroad workers must prove their employer was negligent in causing the accident that led to their medical issues. This is not an easy task to handle on your own. Fortunately, our dedicated railroad injury lawyers are here to help.

If you are a railway worker who was injured on the job or developed an illness due to your work conditions, we may be able to help you bring a claim for your losses. Or if you lost a loved one due to a railroad injury or work-related illness, we can investigate your right to bring a wrongful death claim against the railroad.

Common Railroad Worker Injury Claims We Handle

Working on the railroad is one of the most dangerous jobs in our country. In one recent year, the National Safety Council reported 893 railroad deaths and 5,781 non-fatal railroad-related injuries. As a railway worker, your employer is obligated to provide a safe place for you to work. Injuries can occur from unsafe locomotives, heavy machinery, track conditions, unsuitable tools and equipment, and hazardous work conditions, including exposure to toxic substances. 

Common causes of railroad employee injuries include:

• Traumatic impacts,
• Crushing incidents between trains or heavy equipment,
• Train accidents and derailments,
• Tripping, slipping, or falling hazards,
• Close clearance situations where an obstruction or object is too close to the railroad track and harms a worker on the track,
• Another person fouls the track by placing something on or within four feet of the track, which causes injury when struck by a train or on-track equipment,
• Faulty train coupling systems where a worker must step between train cars. IMPORTANT: this situation falls under strict liability rules where you would not have to prove negligence. Ask your lawyer how the law affects your case if you were harmed as a result of a defective coupling system,
• Railroad crossing accidents,
• Unsafe or faulty tools or equipment, and
• Hazardous work environments.

Since the railroad industry involves so many potentially dangerous scenarios, it’s not surprising that railway workers experience many types of injuries ranging from mild to severe. Common railway worker injuries include:

• Sprains, 
• Strained ligaments, 
• Repetitive motion issues,
• Dislocations, 
• Neck and back problems,
• Herniated spinal discs, 
• Bone fractures, 
• Burns,
• Electrocution,
• Traumatic brain injuries, 
• Limb amputations, and 
• Death.

If you were injured as a result of your railroad employer’s failure to use safety precautions or through careless acts by railroad employees or agents, we could help hold your employer responsible for your losses under FELA. Also, even if you were partially responsible for your injuries, you may still have the legal right to pursue compensation from the railroad. Let one of our compassionate railroad injury lawyers explain how the law applies to your situation.

Railroad Injury Attorneys Can Bring Wrongful Death Claims for Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses That Lead to Premature Death

Severe railroad accidents can also lead to a worker’s death either immediately or over time. If the employer’s negligence contributed to the accident that resulted in a life-claiming injury, the surviving family members might be able to bring a wrongful death claim against the railroad. Proving the necessary legal elements of a wrongful death claim is complicated. If your loved one died from a railroad work injury, partner with an experienced wrongful death attorney at Dolman Law Group to ensure you receive the compensation your family deserves.

Railway workers can also suffer exposure to chemicals or solvents used on the job or those being hauled by train cars, especially in the case of a derailed train that spills toxic substances. Railroad workers may come into contact with asbestos, weed killers, diesel fuel, industrial chemicals, solvents, or creosote that could cause severe health issues after even short exposure periods. 

Railroad employees can develop long-term illnesses, including various types of cancer, after years of exposure. If your loved one’s illness can be connected to a railroad work situation–for instance, if your employer failed to take necessary safety precautions–we might be able to pursue a wrongful death action on behalf of your family member who died from a work-related illness.

Our Railroad Accident Attorneys Can Help You Recover Financial Compensation

Typical workers’ compensation benefits limit an employee’s financial recovery to medical expenses and a percentage of lost wages. However, a personal injury action under FELA allows the injured worker or surviving family members to request additional financial compensation. Similar to other personal injury claims, an injured railroad worker can request payment for both economic and non-economic losses.

Economic Damages

Depending on the unique circumstances of the railroad injury or illness, a railway worker can request payment for all related out-of-pocket expenses, including current and future medical expenses, lost wages, and other documented expenditures. If the injury keeps the employee from returning to work, economic damages may include future lost wages, fringe benefits, and possible promotions.

In a wrongful death situation, the surviving family members can request payment for the economic losses the deceased worker would have provided, as well as funeral expenses and the costs related to final medical treatment, if any.

Non-Economic Damages

A personal injury claim under FELA also allows the injured worker to request damages that are not related to a bill or tangible document. These damages include pain and suffering, loss of a limb or organ, mental and emotional stress due to physical disability, scarring or disfigurement, and the loss of family or social relationships.

Unfortunately, unlike work comp benefits that begin fairly soon after a workplace injury, recovering financial losses in a FELA personal injury case can take some time. This federal law does not allow for interim payments to help injured workers cover their lost wages or medical expenses while the claim is pending. This is another reason why an experienced railroad worker injury attorney can be instrumental in helping railway employees recover the compensation they need.

Steps You Should Take to Protect Your Legal Rights After a Railroad Accident

Depending on the severity of your injuries, you or someone you trust can help your railroad injury lawyers build and present a strong case for compensation. Follow these important steps as quickly as you can:

• First, seek emergency medical care from a trusted physician. Always see a doctor immediately after a workplace accident, even if you think your injuries are not serious. Report all concerns and explain how your injuries happened. Some issues may not appear immediately, so be sure to return to the doctor if your symptoms worsen or change. 
• Speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer who understands railroad injury law and how FELA applies to your situation. Do not provide any statements, sign any documents, or speak with a railroad claim agent before consulting with a knowledgeable FELA lawyer. You have a limited amount of time to bring a claim under FELA, so it’s crucial to work with an attorney from the start.
• Report the incident to your employer. Provide details about how the accident occurred, where you were, and what parts of your body were affected. Review the incident report carefully because it could have legal importance in the future. 
• Follow your doctor’s orders. Attend any follow-up appointments, complete physical therapy, take prescribed medications, and discuss if and when you can return to work.
• Gather information from any co-workers or other people who witnessed your accident. This information may be very helpful for your injury lawyer to build your case. 
• Take photos of the area where the incident occurred and your injuries as quickly as possible. The accident scene may change and your injuries should heal, so try to memorialize this evidence right away.
• Keep track of all medical notes, bills, and other financial documents. Start a journal to record your initial thoughts, including your pain levels and any inability to do certain tasks. Note how you progress over time and how your everyday life has changed.

Contact our Railroad Worker Injury Lawyers to Start Your FELA Lawsuit Today

As a railroad employee, you understand how big companies like common carriers operate. With so many workers in multiple levels of corporate America, it’s easy to get lost in the crowd. If you’ve suffered a workplace injury, you don’t have to face the big railroad company, insurance adjusters, and aggressive defense counsel on your own. Trust a skilled railroad worker injury lawyer at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, to protect your rights. 

Federal laws can be confusing and complicated. Our team of legal professionals is available to meet with you to learn what happened and explain how we can help you receive compensation for your losses. Call us at 866-621-1989 or complete our online contact form now to learn more.

The Dolman Law Group works with local counsel in any jurisdiction outside Florida for the purpose of filing lawsuits in jurisdictions wherein we are not licensed. Thus, we will follow each State’s ethical rules to ensure a local attorney is involved.

Client Testimonial

“AMAZING and understanding attorneys! Did great on my case and I highly recommend Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA for anyone that has been injured in an accident!”
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Koralis R.
Jan 2020
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