The Federal Employers Liability Act was enacted in the early 1900s and is a very specific sector of law that aims to offer financial protection as well as other benefits to those injured while working on railroads. Being an employee at a railroad company is often far from being the safest job in the world. FELA is forcing these companies to have a higher level of working environment safety. Unfortunately, these safety precautions can leave a large hole in a company’s budget and many of them neglect the safety aspects or eliminate them entirely which will allow them to hire more workers, bringing in more profit to the company. What these employers don’t realize is that safety is really important in this industry and failing to offer a suitable working environment will cause serious problems for the company in the unfortunate event of a worker getting injured or, even worse, killed. Working on the railroad can produce a multitude of injuries including: - Burns;
- Electrocutions;
- Disfigurement;
- Broken bones;
- Dismemberment;
- Joint injuries;
- Permanent disabilities;
- Brain injury;
- Shoulder and arm injuries;
- Knee and ankle injuries;
- Crushing injuries.
Injured railroad workers are entitled to financial compensation and other benefits if they can prove their injuries were produced by the negligence of their employer. The following injuries are considered viable for a FELA lawsuit: - Derailments;
- Collisions;
- Heavy cargo loads;
- Frequent use of heavy machinery;
- Human error;
- Track and equipment defects;
- Exposure to fumes or toxins.
If a railroad worker is injured at work, he must seek immediate medical assistance to stop any further possible injuries. For the best chances of recovery he must follow through with all the prescribed long-term care. Consulting with a FELA attorney is also very important because a good and experienced lawyer can make all the difference in the world, providing an aggressive and professional representation in court that will allow the victim to receive the right compensation for his injuries. For more information about how a FELA lawsuit can help injured railroad workers and other legal advice, please visit Online Lawyer Source.
Related Articles -
Railroad, accident, employee, compensation, lawyer, attorney, benefits,
|