MANSMANN & MOORE – FELA/RAILROAD EMPLOYEE LEGAL SUMMARY
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) is a law passed by the government in 1908 to protect injured railroad workers. It gives engineers, brakemen, switchmen and other railroad employees the right to sue for on-the-job injuries in state or federal courts.
It’s Different
The FELA is different from other laws, such as state worker’s compensation laws and state automobile personal injury laws. Damages are based on your individual loss, including lost wages (past, present and future), pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. In order to win a case, you need to show that the railroad caused or contributed to the cause of an accident.
FELA Experience
Because the FELA is unique, if you or someone close to you is involved in a railroad accident it’s best to have an attorney who knows the FELA and has experience in railroad law.Mansmann & Moore has been helping injured railroaders for over 20 years. We know railroad law. And we’ll work hard to see that you’re compensated fully and fairly.
Monetary Damages Under FELA
Damages refers to the losses suffered by an injured employee as a result of an on-the-job injury. Under the FELA, a railroad employee may recover money from the railroad as compensation for these losses. Damages may be divided into two categories: economic losses and non-economic losses. Economic losses are those more easily measured in dollars. The biggest component usually is lost wages. It also includes lost benefits and cost of replacement services. (Medical bills can be such a loss, but are usually fully covered by insurance for job-related injuries.) Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, and the loss of enjoyment of life. This article will explore some aspects of damages.
At Mansmann & Moore, we work closely with our clients to help identify and prove both economic and non-economic damages. This includes meeting with doctors to learn the nature and extent of injury, calculating all out-of-pocket losses like wage loss and medical expenses, and assessing the injured party’s changed lifestyle both vocationally and recreationally. We recognize that these losses are significant and unique to each individual and each family.
Unlike state worker’s compensation laws which, by and large, provide only a small portion of a worker’s wages as compensation, the FELA provides for recovery of the injured railroad worker’s entire range of losses. This better ensures a full recovery for all the losses experienced by an injured railroad worker. In many ways it is the best law in the land for injured workers. Experienced FELA counsel are best at maximizing full recovery for injured employees and their families.
PAIN & SUFFERING UNDER FELA: Non-economic losses are sometimes referred to simply as “pain and suffering”. These damages are more difficult to put a value on than those discussed above. Our courts recognize that jurors can take into account their own common sense and experiences in evaluating what pain and suffering might be worth for a back surgery or the loss of a leg, for example. In addition to the physical pain and suffering, injured workers suffer a psychological loss sometimes referred to as the loss of enjoyment of life. A serious injury may prevent a railroad worker from being able to play with and fully nurture his or her children. It may end the ability to enjoy recreation such as waterskiing or hunting and fishing. All of these losses are significant and are compensable under the FELA.
CONTACT OUR ATTORNEYS TODAY FOR A FREE EVALUATION OF YOUR RAILROAD ACCIDENT CASE! CALL TODAY – TOLL FREE: 1-800-727-4878
CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE: Any damage award can be reduced by the amount of contributory negligence, if any, attributed to an injured person. If a railroad employee is found to be 10 percent at fault for their injury, the total damages are calculated and then reduced 10 percent. For example, if we assume the total damages in a case are $100,000, a 10% reduction would result in a final award of $90,000. We work diligently to counter any contributory negligence argument by the railroad, thus ensuring a larger settlement for the injured railroaders.
RAILROAD EMPLOYEE DEATH: In event of a death, the spouse and family members are entitled to award for the pecuniary losses that they have suffered as well as for any pain and suffering the individual faced up until the time of death. Pecuniary is a legal term referring to measurable dollar losses. These include the amount of money that the deceased worker would have contributed to the family through the course of life had it continued. It also includes the value of aid, comfort and counseling to minor children. These are very special damages and often require significant expertise to ensure the family is fairly provided for.
Because the death of a loved one through a work-related railroad accident is so devastating, it is especially important for the surviving spouse to seek immediate guidance from a FELA attorney. Railroads can and will take every advantage possible even at such times.
In all FELA cases, it is very important to get high quality legal advice early on to be sure that all appropriate damages are fully calculated. If you have any questions about damage issues in FELA cases, please feel free to call Mansmann & Moore and we would be pleased to discuss them with you.
Local: (412) 927-1090
Toll Free: (800) 727-4878
With offices in Pittsburgh, PA, serving Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia
