Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA)

Texas FELA Attorneys: Defending Injured Railroad Employees

The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) was passed in 1908 to protect railroad workers from employer negligence and exploitation.  Because of the high speeds at which trains travel and the dangerous equipment railroad employees work with, railroad workers face the daily potential for serious personal injury or even wrongful death on the job.  FELA is in place to ensure that railroad workers injured by unsafe conditions or the negligence of their employers recover the compensation they need to recover from their injuries and return to work.  The personal injury attorneys at the  firms of Fitts Zehl, LLP and Mark & Associates, P.C. are well-versed in the intricacies of FELA law, and we can help injured railroad employees recover compensation for their damages.

How does FELA Differ from Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation is a no-fault system developed to assist injured employees in the recovery of damages.  To claim workers’ compensation benefits, a worker merely needs to prove that he or she was injured as a result of or directly related to his or her employment.  Once this is established, each state has a system in place to assess claims and reward compensation, which may not cover the full expenses incurred by the injured worker.
Similar to workers’ compensation, the Federal Employers’ Liability Act was put in place to protect injured railroad workers.  However, to recover compensation under this law, injured parties must prove that an employers’ negligence directly caused their injuries.  Under the provisions of FELA, injured workers are entitled to a trial in which a jury can award compensation.  Though compensation is not guaranteed under this law, if an injured worker has a valid claim he or she will most likely recover more than he or she would from a workers’ compensation claim. 

Fitts Zehl, LLP and Mark & Associates, P.C. Can Help

Injured workers who seek to recover compensation under FELA need serious counsel to ensure that their claim is adequately represented in a court of law.  The attorneys at the  firms of Fitts Zehl, LLP and Mark & Associates, P.C. are experienced in litigating FELA claims, and we will work with victims to ensure that justice is served in their favor. In addition to defending the rights of injured railroad employees, the attorneys at the firms of Fitts Zehl, LLP and Mark & Associates, P.C. can also represent passengers injured in train accidents. If you or someone you love has been injured in a train accident or as a result of unsafe railroad working conditions, contact Fitts Zehl, LLP and Mark & Associates, P.C. to have your claim reviewed immediately by a member of our legal team.