What is a FELA lawsuit?

A:

FELA is the name of the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), a federal law enacted in 1908 to protect railway workers injured on the job.  Under FELA, railroad workers not covered by workers’ compensation laws can sue their employer if they are injured on the job.

Unlike workers’ compensation, railway workers who are injured while working must prove that the railroad was legally negligent, and that this negligence contributed at least in part to their injury.  If a rail worker cannot prove that the company was negligent and did not provide a safe working environment, they will not receive compensation for their injuries.

However, if a rail worker is able to prove that the company was negligent, they can receive full compensation.  If you’ve been injured in a railway accident, please contact the experienced FELA lawyers at Vujasinovic & Beckcom toll free at 877.724.7800 or use the contact form on this website.