What You Need to Know About FELA Claims

The Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA) was enacted to protect injured railway workers and ensure that they can seek compensation for injuries sustained on the job. FELA claims are similar to workers’ compensation claims, but they are not the same thing. Learn what you need to know about FELA claims.

What is a FELA Claim?

Unlike workers’ compensation claims, workers who make a FELA claim must prove that their employer was negligent, and their injury was caused by this negligent. The burden of proof is on the worker, and it can be a challenge to demonstrate negligence on the part of their employer. Many injured workers seek the help of a personal injury attorney who is experienced in FELA claims. They can help to gather the necessary evidence to prove that your employer was negligent in preventing your accident.

There are more damages that can be recovered in a FELA claim than can be recovered by a workers’ compensation claim. These damages include:

• Medical expenses, including future expenses
• Lost wages, including future wages
• Pain and suffering
• Mental and emotional trauma or suffering
• Loss of earning capacity
• Permanent disability, including partial or full disability

Injuries Covered by FELA

There are many injuries that can occur on the job. Some can be more immediate, but others may not display symptoms for many years. Some injuries can heal over time but others may be permanently disabling.

FELA generally covers four types of injuries:

• Traumatic injuries, such as fractures, joint sprains, and pulled muscles.
• Repetitive motion injuries, such as carpal tunnel and tendonitis
• Occupational diseases, such as hearing loss, lung cancer, and asbestos exposure.
• Aggravation of pre-existing conditions, such as injuries that exacerbate existing health conditions.

Liability in FELA Claims

When making a claim under FELA, injured workers will need to prove their employer was negligent and this negligence directly contributed to the accident that caused their injury. Many railroad companies are large, complex organizations, and there can be many ways these companies can be negligent and cause employees harm. There are several categories that negligent actions usually fall into.

Negligent actions often include:

• Failure to create and maintain appropriate workplace safety rules.
• Failure to completely and correctly train employees.
• Failure to provide necessary tools, equipment, and protective wear.
• Failure to provide adequate manpower for a task.

Your attorney will look for evidence of your employer’s negligence when they build your case, and will help you to develop a strategy to prove that your injuries could have been prevented, if your employer had taken appropriate action.

In cases where the injured party was partially at fault for their injuries, the injured person can still file a claim under FELA. The amount of liability they are responsible for will be deducted from the total amount of damages they are owed. Workers still are protected, even if they hold some liability for their own injuries.

If you wish to file a claim under FELA, you should be aware of the statute of limitations for these claims. Your lawsuit must be filled within 3 years of the date you were injured, or the date you discovered your injury. For injuries that take longer to appear, it can be difficult to judge when the injury first happened. For these types of injuries, you will have 3 years from the date you were first diagnosed, knew, or should have known that you had a work related injury.

Springfield Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help

Filing a FELA claim can allow injured rail workers to receive the compensation they need, but these claims can be complex. Your claim is important to you, which is why our Springfield personal injury attorneys are committed to representing injured clients with personalized, knowledgeable legal services. Strong Law, P.C. is backed by over 45 years of collective experience and we can help you handle your FELA claim.

Contact our offices today by calling (417) 887-4300 for a free case evaluation.