Mississippi Railroad Employee Injury Lawyer
Railroad employees in Mississippi who get hurt on the job need to know that they may need to seek compensation for their injuries by filing a Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). Unlike other types of workers, most railway employees cannot be eligible to file a traditional workers’ compensation claim through the Mississippi workers’ compensation system. Instead, those employees must file a FELA claim, which requires proof of an employer’s negligence. While filing a FELA claim does require a railroad employee to prove negligence while a workers’ compensation claim does not, injured rail workers may be eligible for additional forms of compensation by filing a successful FELA claim. It is important to work with an experienced attorney on your FELA claim to be sure that you take all necessary steps. Contact our experienced Mississippi railroad employee injury lawyer today for more information about railroad worker injuries and FELA lawsuits.
Types of Railroad Employee Injury Claims We Handle in Mississippi
Railroad workers have many different tasks, and their specific jobs depend upon the specific type of profession in the rail industry. Indeed, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) explains, the broader term “railroad employee” encompasses train conductors, locomotive engineers, railroad brake workers, signal and switch operators, locomotive firers, rail yard engineers, and yardmasters. Job duties are often specific to the type of worker but often include operating locomotive engines, inspecting and documenting mechanical or other issues that affect train operation, checking mechanical issues and making repairs or adjustments to locomotives or related equipment. Given these various job duties, railroad workers can sustain many types of injuries on the job, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs);
- Repetitive stress injuries;
- Burn injuries;
- Hearing loss, including deafness;
- Eyesight loss;
- Bone fractures;
- Exposure injuries and occupational diseases, including cancer and asbestosis; and
- Amputations
What to Do After a Mississippi Railroad Employee Injury
Since most railroad employees will need to file a FELA claim rather than a Mississippi workers’ compensation claim, it is essential to learn more about the FELA claims process and what you must do in order to be eligible for compensation. What do you need to know about filing a FELA claim? Here are some key points to consider:
- You will need to prove employer negligence or liability in order to be eligible for compensation through a FELA claim;
- To prove employer negligence, you will need to prove that the railroad company or any other rail employer failed to provide you with a reasonably safe work environment, which may have resulted from, for example, a failure to provide safety training, a failure to inspect rail conditions, a failure to provide protective or safety equipment, a failure to properly handle hazardous substances, or a failure to comply with laws and regulations designed to ensure rail worker safety;
- It will be important to document your traumatic injury or occupational disease in order to be successful with a FELA claim; and
- You may be eligible to receive compensation for medical care, lost wages, and for non-economic losses such as pain and suffering.
Contact Lunsford Baskin & Prieve, PLLC Today
Injured railroad workers should seek advice from an attorney about a FELA claim or other options for compensation. Contact our experienced Mississippi railroad employee injury lawyer today.
