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Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)

Railroad workers have special protections under the FELA, or Federal Employer's Liability Act. With FELA, injured workers can collect benefits that will help them cover medical bills and lost wages following a railroad accident. Many railroad employees are uncertain of their rights under FELA and find answers with the help of an experienced FELA attorney.

A railroad is guilty of violating the FELA and is liable to an injured railroader for its negligent:

• Failure to provide necessary equipment in safe working condition to do the job;
• Failure to properly perform work in a safe manner and/or failure to properly train railroad employees to do work safely; or
• Failure to provide a safe place to work.

We will help you fight for the FELA benefits you deserve. To make a successful claim, we will show that negligence on the part of the railroad or co-workers was a factor in your injury. In the event that negligence on the injured person's part was a contributing factor in the accident, he may still be able to recover damages. We will also demonstrate that the negligence caused your injury and resulted in financial loss.

Railroads aggressively defend claims made by injured railroaders.  However, injured workers are protected by specific provisions in the FELA which makes it illegal for a railroad to retaliate against an injured railroader for asserting his or her rights under FELA.  It is also illegal for railroads to keep co-workers of the injured railroader from assisting him in the prosecution of his case.

Many times, railroad claims agents will try to discourage injured railroaders from hiring lawyers.  There is a good reason for this -- at least for the railroads.  One study showed that only 30% of injured railroaders hire lawyers, but these injured workers receive 80% of  the claim dollars paid out by railroads for FELA cases.

If you or a loved one suffered severe injury after a work-related railroad accident, don't wait to file. A FELA claim has a statute of limitations of three years from the date of the accident.

The Law Offices of
Barry G. Doyle, P.C.
100 W Monroe St.,
Ste 2100
Chicago, IL 60603

Phone: 312.263.1080
Fax: 312.263.0153

Proudly Serving Many Illinois Cities and Counties, Including:
Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Naperville, Joliet, Waukegan, Geneva, Sycamore, Woodstock, Kankakee, Morris, Ottawa; Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Winnebago, DeKalb, McHenry, Kankakee, Grundy, LaSalle, Peoria, McLean, Champaign, Tazewell Counties

Blog for Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)

• $1.6 million verdict for back injury in Montana FELA case
• FRA report attributes train crash to human error
• Train crash accident results in wrongful death of two railroaders
• Train conductor killed in derailment
• CSX employee killed at railroad crossing
• Florida train crew injured during derailment
• Yard worker crushed in coupling operations at CSX yard
• Appellate Court affirms $1.6 million judgment

Frequent Questions for Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA):

• I am employed by a railroad and was recently hurt at work.  A neighbor said that I should get on worker's compensation.  What should I do?
• What are the difference between FELA and worker's compensation?
• What is the statute of limitations in a FELA case?

Web Resources for Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA):

• Video on FELA

  Description: Fascinating documentary look at historical origins of FELA, showing why FELA is needed to help prevent injury to railroaders.

• Railroad Retirement Board

  Description: The Railroad Retirement Board administers a disability benefits program which provides an alternate source of income to railroaders who are off work because of injury or illness.

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