If you were injured while working for a railroad, a FELA lawyer can help. Contact our law firm in Charleston, West Virginia, to arrange a free consultation.
Charleston Office:
United Center, Suite 800
500 Virginia Street East
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
Telephone: (304) 553-0457
Fax: (304) 347-5055
Toll Free: (866) 804-3235
Washington, DC Office:
1200 New Hampshire Ave
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: (202) 448-9629
Fax: (202) 223-3595
Toll Free: (866) 804-3235
FELA Lawyers in Charleston, West Virginia
There are numerous ways railroad employees can be injured on the job. Frequently, these injuries prove serious enough to merit filing a FELA claim. Railroad claim agents and corporate lawyers may seek to settle your claim before you can contact an attorney. Don’t accept a settlement offer or refusal to pay without consulting a lawyer who understands FELA. If you have been seriously injured while working for a railroad, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, disability, and loss of earnings. To speak with the FELA attorneys at our Charleston, West Virginia firm, please contact James F. Humphreys & Associates today.
- What is the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA)?
- What Is the Difference Between FELA and Workers’ Compensation?
- Do I Need a Lawyer for My FELA Claim?
What is the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA)?
Railroad employees work in an industry that has traditionally been considered among the most dangerous in the country. In 1908, the U.S. Congress passed the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) to protect railroad workers from negligent exploitation. FELA provides railroad workers a system to legally recover damages for personal injury sustained on the job. An injured worker must be able to prove, however, that his or her injury resulted from negligence on the part of the railroad company. Under FELA, railroads are required to provide a reasonably safe working environment for employees.
What Is the Difference Between FELA and Workers’ Compensation?
Workers’ compensation is a no-fault recovery system for injured employees. All a worker needs to prove is that he or she was injured on the job. Once that has been established, each state has a system in place to help assess claims and assign monetary compensation. FELA, on the other hand, requires that an injured railroad worker prove that his or her injury resulted from the railroad’s negligence. Through FELA, an injured worker is entitled to a jury trial. Jury awards can vary greatly depending on the circumstances involved, but a successful FELA claim is typically larger than a workers’ compensation claim. Consult a FELA attorney at our Charleston, West Virginia firm for more information on the difference between FELA and workers’ compensation claims.
Do I Need a Lawyer for My FELA Claim?
While you may have a good relationship with your employer, realize that railroad companies are in business to make money. A claims agent working for the railroad has one major responsibility, to pay out as little of the company’s money as possible. In fact, as soon as you report an injury, the railroad begins to prepare its legal defense. If you have a significant injury, even if you believe it may be your own fault, it is in your best interests to contact a FELA lawyer right away. Your attorney can begin to build your case immediately and make sure you do not sign away any of your legal rights. Claimants who hire FELA lawyers tend to recover a much larger percentage of total payouts by railroad companies. To set up a free consultation, contact a FELA attorney at our Charleston, West Virginia firm today.