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.
Silicosis
Railroading has been identified as one of the industries with greatest risk for silicosis. Caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust, silicosis is 100 percent preventable, though the lung disease is not curable once it has developed. Every year, more than 250 Americans die of silicosis, which has also been associated with bronchitis, tuberculosis and lung cancer in some studies. The exposure to the silica dust can cause lung scarring that makes it difficult to breathe.
Silicosis lawsuits filed by former or current railroad workers have occurred, alleging railroad companies failed to adhere to federal standards until the late 1990s after thousands of workers continued to be at risk for developing silicosis. Successful silicosis lawsuits are especially difficult among railroad employees who must prove the injury 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 railroad injuries and silicosis.
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