Federal Employer Liability Act (FELA) Information
FELA laws were put into place in 1908 by an act of Congress, in recognition of the hazardous nature of railroad work. Working with trains and rails often brings employees in close proximity with heavy, dangerous equipment and toxic substances including asbestos and solvents. For counsel and representation involving FELA, or for information about how FELA may apply to a case involving railroad employment, contact the law offices of Sales & Satterley, to schedule a consultation with a Louisville, Kentucky, attorney.
Explore this Web site to learn about our personal injury advocacy, our mesothelioma litigation and appeals, our railroad crossing injury representation and employment law litigation. Below, some basic information about FELA is presented in brief.
- Ordinary workers' compensation does not apply to railroad workers.
- Injured railroad workers may sue railroad companies directly, and they must prove that the railroads were negligent.
- Occupational illnesses such as mesothelioma may be cause for a FELA claim.
- Comparative negligence applies in FELA claims. This means that if a railroad worker is partially at fault, he will be partially responsible financially and legally speaking. The railroad company will pay a percentage of the total claim in that case.
- Railroad companies have repeatedly lobbied Congress to repeal FELA and allow railroad worker injuries to be covered through workers' compensation. Congress has consistently resisted these efforts to take away the protection that FELA gives workers and the incentive that it gives railroads to ensure workers' safety.
- FELA claims may include compensation claims for wage loss, medical expenses, pain and suffering, permanent injury and emotional distress.
- FELA claims may be brought in state or federal court.
- Prompt and thorough legal counsel can be a key component of a successful FELA claim. It is important to gather evidence while that evidence is still fresh and eyewitnesses' memories are keen.
- Particular rules pertain to BIA (Boiler Inspection Act) and LBIA (Locomotive Boiler Inspection Act) claims, which complement the protection that FELA offers all railroad workers.
For more information about FELA, about FELA litigation, about Sales & Satterley, about mesothelioma, about lung cancer resulting from toxic substances in railroad work or about railroad worker injuries, contact the law firm by phone or e-mail and request a consultation with a lawyer.
