When injured due to the negligence of another party, you can often fight to recover damages. However, when the negligent party is your railroad company employer, and you are injured while working, the process of recovering compensation is very different than if you were involved in a car accident. As an injured railroad employee, understanding the compensation you may be entitled to is critical. If this reflects your circumstances, you’ll want to keep reading to learn how a FELA attorney can help you fight for justice.
What Damages Can I Fight For?
Generally, when injured due to another party’s negligence, you may be eligible to recover compensation for any losses you have incurred. These are called damages.
There are three types of damages – economic, non-economic, and punitive. Economic damages represent actual monetary losses you have suffered due to the accident. Most commonly, this includes medical bills and lost wages, but it can also cover the cost of any property damages in the accident.
Non-economic damages are subjective, as they represent intangible losses. These most commonly refer to emotional issues, like loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, or humiliation. These can be harder to calculate, as there is no quantifiable or monetary amount attached to your emotions.
Punitive damages are much more uncommon than the other two and are usually only issued under extraordinary circumstances. Essentially, these represent an additional punishment imposed on the negligent party for particularly egregious or negligent behavior. These are rarely awarded in most personal injury cases. Importantly, punitive damages are not allowed in FELA cases.
Why Do I Need a FELA Lawyer?
Though you may assume recovering damages is as simple as submitting your medical bills and proving how much time you missed at work, this is far from the truth. In reality, recovering compensation is an incredibly complex process, as there are several factors the courts must consider.
You may find that the railroad will do everything possible to minimize the severity of your injuries to avoid paying you the compensation you deserve. Similarly, they may try to find ways in which you were also negligent or contributed to the accident to reduce the amount they must pay.
As such, it is imperative to connect with an experienced attorney as soon as possible, as they can help you fight for the compensation you deserve under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). These are a set of rules and regulations that govern the railroad industry to ensure that negligent employers are held accountable for negligent actions that injure employees.
At Doran & Murphy, we understand how frustrating it can be to have to fight to prove the economic impact your employer’s negligence has caused. That’s why our team is dedicated to fighting for the best possible outcome for our clients. If you have suffered at the hands of the railroad industry for prioritizing profit over people, connect with us. We will help you fight for the justice you deserve
