Being employed in the railroad industry here in West Virginia is a dangerous job. The federal government signed the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) into place in 1908 after realizing just how risky it is for individuals to be employed as railroad workers face. Railroad companies are required to adhere to certain safety regulations as part of FELA.
FELA requires that railroad workers be properly trained and familiar with safety precautions. This piece of federal legislation also requires rail workers to be constantly supervised and not to subject them to unreasonable demands.
Any worker that is injured on the job because their employer violated FELA may be able to file a claim against the company that they work for. Employees that are successful in proving their case may be entitled to reimbursement for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages.
Employers here in Nitro are expected to do their best to provide their employees with a reasonably safe working environment. If a worker files a claim against their employer for having violated FELA, then the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will generally step in to investigate their claims.
Rail workers are more vulnerable to suffering certain injuries on the job over others. They’re at a high risk of becoming electrocuted while working. Rail workers also often fall from moving railway vehicles. It’s not uncommon for workers to be struck by moving trains or their cars.
The most common types of injuries that rail workers suffer include neck and back trauma and broken bones. Many of the accidents that they’re involved in prove to be fatal. Many of the injuries that rail workers face tend to leave a lasting impact on a worker. They never tend to be able to fully recover from such injuries.
You may be entitled to monetary damages if you’ve been hurt by filing a FELA claim. The exact amount and type of damages vary by case. The severity of your injuries is often a determining factor of how much compensation you may be entitled to. A railroad accidents attorney can review your case and let you know how they can get you the best results possible in your West Virginia legal matter.