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What Our Clients Say

I am very pleased with attorney Curtis Bickers and the entire law firm for their diligence in handling my case. I would gladly recommend them to others and use them again if the need arises. Thank you very much and may God continually bless all of you.

Sincerely,

Walter W.
Office Manager
Houston, Texas
Dear Curtis,

I would like to express my gratitude for the way you have taken care of this case. Thank you for your advice and encouragement during a time when I was completely bewildered by what needed to be done and how very much needed doing.

You and your staff made a very difficult time much easier for me and I appreciate your work on my behalf.

Sincerely,

Darlene R.
Dear Mr. Beckcom:

I never got a chance to say thank you for the wonderful job you did on my daughter's case. My daughter will be graduating in June from High School with cum laude status. She will be attending college at U.T. Austin and majoring in Communications. Thanks to your efforts her college education has been taken care of. Thank you again from both of us.

J. Perez

Houston, Texas
I know that my attorney is good because he won my case and I would recommend him to others.
Words cannot express the thanks and gratefulness that we have for Vuk and his company. His tireless efforts and aggressive style meant the world to us and he changed our lives forever. I will always be loyal and grateful to V&B for taking on my case and being committed from the beginning until the end. I highly recommend these guys with 100% assuredness that they will work hard for you and help you receive what you deserve.

Mark S.
Mechanic
Pasadena, Texas
From the moment I came to this law firm, I felt peace in my heart. You all were my voice. Thank you Mr. Curtis, you are a great attorney. I want to especially thank you for your effort and dedication and the good heart you put in my case. You are very professional. God Bless you always.

Alba

Therapist
Houston, Texas
Sincere thanks for this depo ... really excellent ... Beckcom/the firm is tops ... for such exhaustive preparation ... WOW ... what a depo.

Houston lawyer commenting on deposition of defense orthopedic doctor taken by V&B
Your law firm did a great job getting the case settled. You were helpful and I would recommend you to anyone.

Betty J. Richmond

Retired
Houston, Texas
Brian & Curtis

Thank you for all you've done for me in regards to my case.

Sincerely

-Raymond S.

Seafood Worker
Deltona, Florida
I would like to thank Brian Beckcom and his staff for their professionalism and their support. . . I knew when I met Brian that he was more than qualified to handle my father's wrongful death case . . .if I needed his help again I wouldn't hesitate to call.

Sabrina M, U.S. Air Force enlisted

Houston, Texas
Just when we thought we would never find someone who would listen to our story, V&B opened their doors to us. For one month, I spoke to 25 lawyers and the answer I received was "your case is a lost case, no one will ever represent you."

Aridana Perez (mother of Miguel Perez, Jr., auto accident victim)
Houston, Texas
I'd like to thank the staff at Vujasinovic & Beckcom for the professionalism and courtesy they displayed on my case.

Kurt R., Houston, Texas
I also have a heart full of gratitude for the way you presented such an excellent court case on behalf of me and my kids.

Gloria H., Wichita, Kansas
Brian, I recommend your maritime book highly. I also happily recommend you, personally.

-Captain Jim Vickers
I sat on one of your juries early this year. I observed your eloquence and complete passion....you seem to be a man of utmost qualifications.

- Juror on one of Vuk's cases (name withheld)
Vuk, it has been such a wonderful experience working with you and your staff. Thank you so much for all the hard work that you did to help my family and I survive through the most difficult time of our lives.

Phuong N.
Houston, Texas
I was injured in an auto accident in Houston, and was referred to Vuk by another attorney. I couldn't work as a result of the accident and desperately needed back and knee surgery.. . . Vuk was able to get me a generous settlement within about a year of taking my case.

Steven R.
Deer Park, Texas
After my two-year old son was killed by an 18-wheeler driver and me and my daughter were badly injured, we hired Brian and Vuk to represent us on the recommendation of another lawyer.

This was the hardest time in our lives and it was great knowing we had you there to represent us.

Justin and Sonya H., Splendora, Texas

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Disclaimer

We designed this website to provide information to consumers, injured people, and their families. Our goal is to level the playing field between consumers and insurance companies and expose the tricks, traps, and techniques they use to cheat injured people out of their legal rights. We also let consumers know about legal news, including verdicts and settlements and other interesting legal information.

But please understand that nothing on this website is meant to provide legal information about your specific case, create an attorney-client relationship, or imply that the results of your legal case will be the same as some other case.

Have You Been Injured in a Railroad, Train or Subway Accident? These special "FELA" cases require experienced legal representation and are not handled the same way as a typical personal injury case...

In the early 1900s, railroad workers were suffering personal injury and death at an astonishing rate. The public was angry, and they demanded that railroad workers, and their widows and kids, be protected under the law.

The United States Congress responded. In 1908, the Congress passed The Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) in an effort to protect injured railroad workers.

The law protects injured railroad workers. For example, the law protects:

Engineers
Brakemen
Switchmen
Other railroad employees who are hurt on the job

The law has continued to grow and evolve, both in efforts by Congress and the Federal Courts, to provide strong protection to injured railroad workers and their families.

FELA Is Not Like Other Laws

Unlike state worker's compensation laws, or state-based negligence laws, FELA is different. You must show negligence to win your case under FELA, unlike worker's compensation laws, which are basically no-fault.

You must show, basically, that the railroad failed to provide a safe place to work.

You Are Not Required to Hire A Union Attorney

If you are hurt while working for the railroad and are considering hiring an attorney, you may not know that you are not required to hire a union-designated attorney. In fact, there may be many reasons why you would want to hire a non-union attorney to handle your claims.

If you choose to work directly with the railroad's insurance people or claims agent, chances are very good that you will be pressured to make a quick settlement that is both cheaper and less fair to you than a settlement negotiated by an experienced attorney.

However, if you do choose to try to settle your own case, make sure that you do plenty of research about case values and fair settlements before you do. Otherwise, you are almost certain to get a bad settlement.

Common Injuries to Railroad Workers

The railroad industry, and many of the jobs in the industry, are just inherently dangerous. You are working with lots of moving parts and heavy machinery and are under constant pressure to get the job done faster and more efficiently, often by cutting corners on safety.

This is a recipe for injury. And unfortunately, all too often, that is exactly what happens.

Common railroad worker injuries include:

Hearing loss
Back and neck injuries
Chemical and asbestos exposure injuries
Lifting injuries
Shoulder and knee injuries
Amputations
Burns
Slips, Trips, and Falls
Exposure to toxic solvents

Access to a Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney Throughout Your Case

The attorneys at our firm do not handle a huge number of cases. They handle a smaller number of legitimate, serious injury and wrongful death cases.

That means they have more time for your case. And it means you will have a Board Certified Personal Injury Attorney working personally on your case, from start to finish.

It also means that you will actually get to talk to your attorney personally whenever you need to, rather than talking to some junior level associate or receptionist all the time.

The bottom line is you will get better, quicker, more reliable service and will know the status of your case from start to finish. That will enable you to rest comfortably knowing your case is being handled properly.

Some Important Things You Must Know If You Are Hurt On The Job

The following are some very important things you must know if you are hurt working for the railroad:

You must report your injury. You must fill out an injury report if possible.
When you fill out the report, make sure you list anything that could have contributed in any way to your injury. FELA requires a fault finding, so if you don't include all contributing causes, the report may later be used against you.
Tell your co-workers you were hurt and ask them to be your witnesses.
You are not required to see the company doctors. In fact, you should strongly consider seeing your own doctor so you can get an independent evaluation of your claims.
Keep track of all your lost wages, out-of-pocket expenses, gas mileage, travel costs, and other ways the injury has affected you, both financially and personally.

Blog for FELA & Railroad Injury

Library for FELA & Railroad Injury:

What to Look for in a FELA / Railway Injury Attorney
Description: Are you looking for an experienced attorney to handle your FELA / railroad injury case? Don’t just go with the first lawyer you find – make sure you do your homework, interview a few firms, and ask lots of questions. You might be surprised by some of the answers you get, and in the end a little research will help you make the right choice.
Do you really need a FELA Railway Injury Attorney?
Description: After a railway accident, you may be wondering if you should hire a lawyer. The insurance company says you shouldn’t, but you suspect they aren’t telling you the whole story. The real answer? It depends. Serious accident cases fare much better with an experienced attorney’s help, while minor rail accident claims are often best handled by the victim.
Rail workers deserve compensation for serious spine injuries
Description: Railway work can be dangerous for even the most experienced employees, and every year workers are injured or killed while just trying to do their job. Some injuries can leave workers unable to work as much as they used to, if at all. One serious kind of injury is a spinal cord injury, which can cause full or partial paralysis or other problems with movement or sensation.
Why you need help after a railroad head injury
Description: Given the dangerous nature of railroad work, rail workers can be injured in many different ways. One very serious type of injury that some workers suffer is major head trauma. This can include skull fractures, bleeding brain, contusions, concussion, and more. When combined with other injuries like spinal cord damage, injured workers need all the help they can get from an experienced FELA attorney.
Why your railroad employer doesn’t like FELA
Description: If you’ve been injured while working for a railroad company, you may be wondering why your employer is reluctant to compensate you for your injuries. There are several reasons why railroads don’t like FELA, the federal act that covers injured workers like you when they are hurt on the job. FELA offers a number of protections to hurt rail employees, protections that can cost the railroads big bucks.
Dangerous toxic substances can lead to injury and death for rail workers
Description: Rail workers are exposed every day to dangerous substances like silica dust, benzene, chemical solvents, diesel exhaust, and more. If the proper precautions are not taken, rail employees can be seriously injured or killed by these chemicals. If you are a railroad worker who suspects that you are suffering because of exposure to a hazardous substance, you need a FELA lawyer to ensure you get fair compensation from your employer.
Railway workers: diesel exhaust can lead to respiratory illness
Description: Many railway workers are routinely exposed to hazardous toxins like diesel exhaust. The components of diesel exhaust have been linked to cancer, COPD, asthma, and other respiratory ailments. If you’ve been injured while working for a railroad then it is time to stand up for your rights and get in touch with a lawyer experienced with FELA railway accident cases.
Repetitive motion disorders can permanently sideline a railway worker
Description: Performing the same task day in and day out for years on end is something some railway workers must do to earn a living. However, this kind of repetitive motion can lead to permanent, serious injury if not properly performed. If you believe that you have experienced a repetitive motion disorder, then it is in your best interest to speak with a FELA attorney about your situation.
How railway workers can be injured on the job
Description: As any railroad worker will attest, railway work can be dangerous. There are a wide variety of ways that rail workers can be injured, and all can lead to permanent, debilitating damage. If you’ve been injured while working for a railroad it is important that you protect your rights by speaking with a skilled FELA / railway injury attorney as soon as possible.
Top 6 Aviation Safety Issues
Description: The NTSB maintains a list of “Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements for Aviation”, and all but one are rated as having an “unacceptable response” from the agency responsible for making the necessary changes – the FAA. Find out what these six desired improvements are, and what the FAA has been asked to do to make American aviation safer.
Five things you must know if you have a railroad injury case
Description: Railroad injury case? Five things you must know to avoid de-railing your case.
Railroad injury case? Get a Free Special Report and information package sent to your door or emailed to your computer
Description: Board certified attorney Brian Beckcom explains why you may not need a lawyer for your railroad injury case
Myths and Facts about railroad injury cases
Description: Board-certified Texas railroad injury attorney uncovers myths about railroad accident cases and reveals the truth that the railroads may be hiding
Am I required to hire a union lawyer or "Union Designated" lawyer for my railroad injury case?
Description: Railroad attorney Brian Beckcom explains why you are NOT required to hire a union lawyer or "union designated" lawyer for your FELA or railroad injury case.