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How Does FELA Safeguard the Rights of Injured Railroad Workers?
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) provides crucial protections for railroad workers who are hurt on the job in Texas. Unlike standard workers’ compensation systems, FELA operates on a fault-based system, allowing injured railroad employees to pursue compensation through federal and state courts. With Texas being a railroad powerhouse boasting more miles of track than any other state, the application of FELA principles significantly impacts thousands of railroad workers across the state. A knowledgeable Brazoria County personal injury attorney can provide essential information and guidance on how FELA may impact the financial recovery process after a railroad injury.
What is FELA?
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act was enacted by Congress in 1908 in response to alarming statistics regarding railroad worker fatalities and injuries in the early 20th century. The law was explicitly designed to place financial responsibility on the railroad industry for the injuries and deaths occurring in its operations. In Texas, FELA became a critical protective mechanism for workers in this hazardous industry.
FELA fundamentally changed the legal landscape for railroad workers by eliminating several common law defenses previously available to employers. Under FELA, railroads can no longer claim the fellow servant rule, where employers avoided liability if injuries were caused by coworkers, or assumption of risk as complete defenses. The law was intentionally designed to be liberally construed in favor of injured workers, creating a more favorable recovery framework than existed under common law principles previously applied in Texas courts.
For Texas railroad workers, FELA represents the exclusive remedy for workplace injuries, supplanting state workers’ compensation systems that cover other industries. This federal protection applies specifically to railroad carriers engaged in interstate commerce, which encompasses virtually all major railroad operations in Texas due to the state’s central position in national freight transportation networks.
How and Where Are FELA Cases Litigated?
FELA cases in Texas can be brought in either federal courts or Texas state courts, giving injured workers flexibility in choosing their forum. When FELA cases are litigated in Texas state courts, a crucial jurisdictional principle applies: the parties’ rights are controlled by federal law, while procedural matters follow Texas state law unless those procedural rules conflict with FELA itself. This system creates a hybrid legal environment where federal protections are enforced through state court procedures.
The ability to pursue FELA claims in Texas state courts represents a key advantage for injured railroad workers, as it often provides greater convenience and potentially more favorable local juries. The Texas judicial system has developed considerable expertise in managing these specialized cases. The state’s procedural laws govern important aspects of litigation, including statutes of limitations, rules of evidence, and trial procedures for FELA cases brought to state courts. However, the substantive rights guaranteed under FELA cannot be diminished by state procedural requirements.
What is the Importance of Proving Negligence in a FELA Claim?
While FELA provides significant protections for railroad workers in Texas, it is not a strict or absolute liability statute. Unlike Texas workers’ compensation, which provides benefits regardless of fault, FELA requires injured railroad workers to prove that their employer’s negligence played at least some role in causing their injuries. Under FELA as applied in Texas courts, the injured worker must establish that the railroad failed to ensure a reasonably safe workplace due to a lack of safe equipment and tools, ergonomically sound working conditions, or other essential risk-mitigation strategies.
However, the negligence standard under FELA is significantly more favorable to workers than ordinary negligence claims in Texas. The injured worker need only prove that the railroad’s negligence played “any part, even in the slightest,” in causing the injury. This pure comparative negligence system contrasts with Texas’s modified comparative negligence rule in most other personal injury cases, which bars recovery if the plaintiff is more than 50% responsible.
What Damages May Be Recovered Under a FELA Claim?
Railroad worker injuries can be devastating and may cause life-long physical and mental challenges or even death. Damages available to injured railroad workers in Texas under FELA are comprehensive and may include compensation for:
- Future medical expenses
- Past and future wage and benefit losses, potentially until retirement age
- Past and future pain and suffering
- Compensation for disability or loss of a normal life
In fatal cases, families can recover for lost financial support and the loss of guidance and care the worker would have provided to children. Notably, these damages are not subject to the caps and limitations that apply to many personal injury claims under Texas state law.
How Do FELA Claims Differ From Workers’ Compensation Claims?
Railroad workers covered by FELA are explicitly excluded from the Texas Workers’ Compensation Act, as FELA provides the exclusive remedy for these employees. This distinction creates vital differences in how railroad injuries are handled compared to injuries in other industries within Texas. Unlike the Texas workers’ compensation system, which provides scheduled benefits with defined limits, FELA allows Texas railroad workers to recover full damages as determined by a judge or jury. However, this comes with the burden of proving railroad negligence, which is not required in workers’ compensation claims.
What is the Process for Filing a FELA Claim?
Pursuing a FELA claim in Texas begins with the crucial step of reporting the injury to the employer and seeking immediate medical treatment. Texas railroad workers should be aware that they have the right to consult their own physicians rather than relying solely on company-designated doctors. Early medical documentation establishes the foundation for any subsequent FELA claim.
Following injury reporting, the injured worker must gather evidence supporting their claim, including medical records, witness statements, and documentation of safety violations. With proper legal representation, the worker then files a FELA claim against the railroad, which may lead to settlement negotiations or, if necessary, litigation in either Texas state court or federal court.
The statute of limitations for filing a FELA claim in Texas state courts is three years from the date of injury, which differs from the two-year limitation period for ordinary personal injury claims under Texas law. This extended filing period represents one of the procedural advantages FELA provides to railroad workers in Texas. Notably, for injuries that develop over time, such as repetitive stress injuries, the three-year period may begin when the worker reasonably should have known about the injury and its relationship to railroad employment.
How Can Our Firm Serve You?
It is vital for injured railroad workers to contact an experienced Texas personal injury attorney when pursuing a FELA claim because these cases can be complicated and require proving employer negligence. Without skilled representation, workers risk undervalued settlements or denied claims due to the railroads’ vast resources and legal teams. Our qualified attorneys at The Kahn Law Firm, P.C. can navigate complex procedural requirements, ensure compliance with the three-year statute of limitations, and advocate for full compensation, while leveraging our understanding of state and federal court systems to maximize recovery. If you have suffered an on-the-job injury as a railroad employee, contact our Pearland office today at 713-999-6549 to schedule a free case evaluation to learn about your legal options under FELA.
