Protecting The Rights Of The Midwest’s Railroad Workers
If you are a railroad worker who suffered an injury on the job, you face a challenging legal battle to recover compensation. The railroad industry is governed by many regulations that do not apply to other industrial workers. You need representation from railroad injury lawyers who both understand the unique laws that impact your rights and EXCLUSIVELY represent employees.
At Dunn Harrington, we feel proud to advocate for injured railroad workers in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. As experienced litigators, we have recovered more than $500 million in awards and FELA injury settlements for our clients. We take on national cases and will not hesitate to go up against powerful railroad companies and insurance providers to protect all of your rights.
What To Know About FELA Injury Claims
Injury claims for railroad workers fall under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, or FELA. Unlike regular workers’ compensation claims, FELA injury claims require you to prove fault on the part of your employer if you want to recover benefits. This process is very difficult, particularly because railroad companies have their own team of attorneys to help them avoid liability.
Fortunately, we have successfully handled thousands of FELA injury claims as well as other personal injury lawsuits, recovering substantial compensation for our clients. Whether you have questions on how to report your injury, how to recover compensation if your accident took place in transport or how FELA disability benefits work, we are the law firm to call.
Guidance Through Complex Railroad Rules
Your employer has specific procedures for handling employee injury claims, which generally start with properly filing a personal injury report documenting your incident, causes and injuries. Unsurprisingly, the railroad uses this process to start the assignment of blame to you and away from its own unsafe workplace. You need an experienced and dedicated Chicago railroad accident attorney to navigate this process. Because of his over 20 years of experience handling FELA actions, Dunn Harrington co-founder and partner, Bob Harrington, is Designated Legal Counsel to SMART Transportation Division (SMART-TD) as well as on the executive board of the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys, the legal designating organization for the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainman (BLET). Bob and Chicago railroad injury attorney Colin Dunn at Dunn Harrington possess the necessary skill and experience to represent you through this challenging process.
Common Questions About Railroad Worker Injuries
Railroad work is dangerous, and severe injuries are not uncommon. Recovery and the aftermath of such an injury or the loss of a loved one can be overwhelming. Below, we have answered some questions that we frequently receive from clients.
What damages can I recover through a FELA injury claim?
A FELA claim will allow you to recover both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include past and future lost wages, medical expenses, and other tangible financial losses. Noneconomic damages include pain and suffering or damages that are not actual financial losses. Families who have lost a loved one due to a railroad injury may also be eligible to receive compensation. View more frequently asked FELA law questions answered by our attorneys here.
How much time after an accident do I have to file a claim?
The statute of limitations to file a FELA claim is three years after the date of the injury. However, there are exceptions for certain situations. If you have hearing loss or exposure to hazardous chemicals that caused your injury, you have three years from the date you discovered the injury or illness.
What if I was partially at fault for the accident?
If you are at fault for the accident, you may still be eligible to recover compensation. However, your percentage of contribution to your injury will impact the total amount you can recover.
Learn How We Can Assist
When you are up against powerful companies like the railroad, you need equally powerful railroad injury lawyers like the ones at Dunn Harrington to advocate for you and your family. Contact us to schedule a free, confidential consultation about your FELA injury claim. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means that you do not pay us unless we recover compensation. To reach us, call 872-282-4603 or send us an email. We have offices throughout the Midwest in Chicago, Indianapolis and Columbus.