Injured by Another? Call 844-Recover
Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) / Railroad Injury Lawyers Lawyers Near Me
Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) / Railroad Injury Lawyers Albany NY
If you work for a railroad transportation company and were injured on the job, you may be entitled to compensation under a special federal law known as the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). Our experienced FELA railroad injury lawyers help injured railroad workers understand their rights and recover the compensation they deserve. FELA was created to provide important legal protections for employees who are hurt while working on the railroad, ensuring that they receive fair treatment and financial support after an accident.
FELA provides injured railroad employees the right to bring a claim against their employer when negligence contributes to an injury. This means an employee may be entitled to recover compensation not only for lost wages and medical expenses but also for pain and suffering and the loss of future earning capacity.
Experienced FELA Railroad Injury Lawyers
At LaMarche Safranko Law, our attorneys have extensive experience representing clients in railroad injury and FELA cases throughout New York State. We understand the risks railroad workers face and the complex legal process involved in pursuing a FELA claim. Whether your injury was caused by unsafe working conditions, inadequate training, or defective equipment, our team will thoroughly investigate your case and fight to secure the full compensation you deserve.
FAQs about Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) / Railroad Accidents
If you have been hurt while working on the railroad, it is important that you notify your supervisor of the nature and extent of your injuries and to seek medical attention as soon as possible. You should also contact your union representative immediately. It is always best to contact an experienced railroad injury lawyer before making any statements or providing information to a claims representative.
Yes. Even if you are found to be partly at fault, so long as you are not 100% at fault for your injury, FELA allows for an employee to sue their employer.
While you are not required to have an attorney handle your case, it is always better to contact an experienced railroad injury attorney as they will have the knowledge and skill to help obtain the best verdict or resolution for you.
The length of a case for a person injured while working on the railroad varies. For information on the general time frame of a personal injury, see the timeline below. The amount of time a case takes depends on many factors including the extent of the injuries, whether the case will be litigated or settled, how the injury occurred, and whether you are able to return to work. Often, you need to wait some time to determine the answers to these questions. An experienced railroad injury attorney will be able to help guide you through the process.
The value of an injury to an injured railroad worker depends on the severity of the injury, the amount of time lost from work, whether the railroad employee can return to work, and the permanency of the injury. It is important to work with an experienced personal injury attorney who has handled FELA and railroad worker injuries to help obtain the best outcome for you.
In a FELA case, you can seek past and future wage loss; out of pocket expenses; past and future pain and suffering; psychological treatment; past and future medical expenses. In a wrongful death case, dependents can seek economic loss for the death of a family member.
FELA applies to injuries on the railroad that can range from falls from heights, defective equipment, asbestos exposure, repetitive stress, and cumulative trauma injuries.
You may be entitled to benefits under the Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits or supplemental disability benefits. You should contact your union representative to see what benefits are available for you.
Yes. Like many other personal injury cases, FELA cases use the comparative negligence standard. This means a percentage of fault will be assessed against the injured railroad worker and the railroad. Any award would then be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you suffered a severe injury and were awarded 1 million dollars, and a judge or jury determined the fault responsibility to be 25% for the injured worker and 75% for the railroad, the 1 million dollar verdict would be reduced by 25% to $750,000.
FELA lawsuits can be brought in either State or Federal Courts. It is important to work with a railroad injury attorney with knowledge and experience in FELA lawsuits who can explain the pros and cons to appropriately choose the jurisdiction right for you and your case.
An injured railroad worker must prove that injury was caused by the negligence of the railroad company, other employees, agents, or contractors, or from a defective or faulty product or piece of equipment provided by the Railroad. Strict or absolute liability against the railroad may be imposed if the railroad violated a safety statute or regulation.
No. While you may have to be examined by a railroad doctor, you have the right to treat with any doctor or physician of your choice for your injuries. You should make sure the doctor that you treat with accepts your insurance or you may otherwise be responsible for the costs associated with seeing the physician.
Law Firm Testimonials
“No one likes to be in a bad situation, but if you need a lawyer George is your man. Not only does he point you in the right direction he offers good advice for your future. As much as we bring him business he does not encourage that next time anticipation….
“I wanted to express my deepest appreciation to Mr. Andrew Safranko for the exceptional job he did in regards to my legal representation. Mr. Safranko displayed the utmost in professionalism and discretion during the entire court process, and took the time to explain each and every step….
“Dear Andrew and George,
I cannot thank you enough for your hard work, diligence, and selfless manner that you put towards my legal difficulties in Colonie. From the first moment I met you, you helped reassure me that things were going to turn out in a more favorable manner than I originally thought. Clearly, the final result of my court case displays the quality of time and work that you put into this….
“I cannot thank George E. LaMarche lll and his team for the excellent legal work they provided for my son, and in extension, our entire family. His experience, knowledge of the law, networking ability and communication is second to none. In our case, our son was wrongly accused by a small town police officer and charged with 5 tickets…
“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your excellent representation on my recent matter. I have worked with lawyers, and in law firms much of my professional life, but I have never encountered the rare mix of skill, integrity and humanity in one individual—you….
“Dear George, Andy and Staff,
Thank you all for your kindness and all your help in getting back to my wellbeing and life. I could not have done it without you all. Everything is going so well again. I recommend you highly. Thanks Again!”
“Dear Mr. Safranko,
Thank You so much for answering my question, and so expediently!
The dedication, respect, and consideration with which you treat your clients, current and past, is remarkable. It is why I reached out to you when searching in my time of need, and why I would highly recommend…
“My family and I cannot thank George and his staff enough for all of the support and guidance they have given us over the past six months. Anyone who has ever suffered a personal injury knows how difficult they are to overcome, but I’m glad we had such an intelligent and hardworking attorney on our side so I could focus on my recovery rather than on the details of the case….
“Throughout the attorney client relationship regarding my personal injury lawsuit, George and his staff continually exhibited tremendous amounts of legal knowledge, skill, and a vast amount of expert resources that ultimately resulted in a final judgment in my favor. George was there every step of the way to explain where we stood and what to expect next and there was never a need to question his professional judgment…
“I am an attorney who found himself in the middle of a serious, personal legal matter that compromised not only my personal life but my professional life as well. I immediately contacted Andrew (Andy) Safranko, Esq. Andy worked tirelessly and extremely hard to bring my legal situation to a very favorable resolution. In so doing, Andy not only saved certain aspects of my personal and professional life…
“The arrest of my husband in 2008 was an extremely difficult and emotional time for our family. The arrest turned our lives upside down. It was sudden and unexpected and had tragic emotional as well as financial consequences. I had no idea what to do under the circumstances….
“The staff at LaMarche Safranko Law took care of whatever I needed, it was just fabulous. It was top shelf, if I called, I got George. If he was in a meeting, they left him a message. He called me right back after the meeting. Everybody was very courteous and very nice there. If I left a voicemail, everybody got back to me quickly. The level of service was very, very good and I would Highly recommend them.”
“I can honestly say that the best decision I’ve ever made was retaining George LaMarche as my attorney. I was in a situation where everything wasat risk; my career, livelihood, and the ability to provide for my family. In desperation, I contacted over a dozen attorneys. The majority of the lawyers I spoke with promised results without seeing paperwork or knowing valuable facts….
“Dear Andy,
Thank you so much for everything you have done for our son over the last three years. This has been a very challenging time for our family and the knowledge that our son has an attorney as capable and amazing as you are has given us peace of mind!
