A Memphis, Tennessee, Railroad Accident Attorney helping the Injured Recover Damages in:

FELA / Railroad Worker Cases

The Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) is a law implemented in 1908 to protect injured railroad workers.It gives railroad workers, such as engineers, brakemen, switchmen, and conductors, the right to sue for on-the-job injuries in state or federal courts.

Memphis, Tennessee has historically been a crossroads for many kinds of travel, including railroad traffic. Several major railroads still run through southwest Tennessee. Working on a railroad can still be dangerous as trains derail or are involved in crashes. Coupling, or decoupling of railroad cars--given their weight and mass--mean that even a collision at slow speed can cause serious or catastrophic injuries.

FELA is different from other laws, such as state workers' compensation laws. Damages are based on the railroad employee’s individual loss, including lost wages (past, present and future), pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. In order to win a case, you need to show that the railroad caused or contributed to the cause of a rail accident.

A Memphis, Tennessee Lawyer Who Uses FELA to Get Railroad Workers Damages Over and Above What Workers’ Compensation Will Pay

At The Law Offices of John R. Johnson, III, P.C., we are very familiar with FELA and how to use it to help railroad workers. Unlike state workers' compensation laws, which by and large provide only a percentage of a worker's wages as compensation, FELA provides for recovery of an entire range of losses.

In the event of a death of a railroad employee, involving negligence by the railroad employer, the spouse and family members of the deceased railroad worker are entitled to an award for the “pecuniary” (or dollar) losses that they have suffered as well as for any pain and suffering the individual faced up until the time of death. Pecuniary losses include the amount of money that the deceased railroad worker would have contributed to the family through the course of his or her life had it continued. It also includes the value of aid, comfort and counseling to minor children. These are special damages that often take consulting with experts to prove them.

Standing Up for the Rights of Families of Deceased Railroad Workers

The death of a loved one through a work-related railroadaccident is bound to be devastating on the family. Railroad companies, or their insurers, might try to capitalize on the family’s emotional vulnerability to get a quick settlement that will not meet the family’s long-term needs. That’s why it’s important to contact John R. Johnson, III, at the earliest opportunity.

If you have any questions about damage issues in FELA cases, please do not hesitate to call us at The Law Offices of John R. Johnson, III P.C., to discuss your legal options. Our initial consultation is free.