If you work for the railroad or are employed in other types of work for the federal government, you are required to file workplace injury claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) of 1908. The laws have changed a lot over the years and the rules for filing an acceptable claim have become increasingly complex.
What Is FELA?
FELA applies to any railroad employee without workers’ compensation coverage who was injured due to the railroad’s carelessness, as long as the railroad is engaged in interstate commerce. A railroad is considered engaged in interstate commerce if it ships freight or people across state lines, has rails that cross state lines or otherwise somehow does business in more than one state.
Even if a railroad isn’t engaged in interstate commerce, its employees may still be able to sue under Missouri’s general personal injury laws.
What Should I Do After a Railroad Accident
The first thing you should do after a railroad accident in Missouri is get medical help for anyone who needs it. The railroad may also ask you to help with an accident report. But after you’ve had time to think, you should try to preserve as much information about the accident that you can. Save all the paperwork you have — medical documents, the railroad’s report and any police report. Write down everything you remember while it’s fresh, and take pictures of your injuries and anything else that might show what happened. All of this preserves evidence that can help you later if you decide to file a FELA lawsuit.
Contact Sticklen Dreyer Tinney Law Firm
It is important that railroad workers and their families know their rights under FELA. If you or a family member was injured while on the job for the railroad, you may be entitled to compensation.
Please call the attorneys at Sticklen Dreyer Tinney in Missouri for a free, no-obligation consultation regarding your rights under FELA.