FELA, or the Federal Employment Liability Act assures railroad employees a safe work place and gives them and their families the right to recover compensation if injured in a railroad related accident. Under FELA, injured employees can seek compensation for wage loss, future wage loss, medical expenses and treatments, pain and suffering, and for partial or permanent disability. All railroad solvent exposure lawsuits have been filed under FELA.
Ballast: Injury to Feet, Ankles, Legs & Spine
All railroads have ballast, a coarse gravel or crushed rock laid to form a bed for railroads. Over the years, there have been differing opinions on what type of ballast to use in yards and railroad locations because of the risk. Workers could fall and suffer injury to feet, ankles, legs, spine and other bodily areas. If you are employed in the railroad industry, the frequency of having to walk on ballast while performing job duties at the same time can greatly increase the likelihood of slipping or tripping on the uneven surface.
Since the ballast rock varies in size, there are different views on what type of ballast would minimize the risk of injury to feet, ankles, leg, spine and other areas. Railroad workers who suffer injuries while at work must file claims under FELA, unlike other industries covered by no-fault workers' compensation laws. Under FELA, railroad workers suffering ballast injuries who are trying to recover damages most prove the injury to feet, ankles, legs, spine or other body parts was caused by the negligence of the railroad or its agents.
Please contact us to confer with a FELA attorney to learn your legal rights and options regarding a ballast injury.
Learn more about other types of railroad injuries and dangers:
- Mesothelioma
- Asbestosis
- Benzene
- Creosote
- Chemical Solvent
- Silicosis
- Carpal Tunnel
- Diesel Fumes
- Lung Cancer, Lung Disease, Lung Injury
- Ballast: Injury to Feet, Ankles, Legs, Spine
- Ballast: Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs)
- Back Injuries
- Hearing Loss