Post-Traumatic Stress and Mental Health Claims Under FELA: What Injured Rail Workers Need to Know
You survived the accident. Now you’re left fighting an invisible war—panic in the pit of your stomach, sleepless nights, and the sudden rush of fear every time you step near the tracks. These are not weaknesses; they are symptoms of an injury the railroad industry has ignored for far too long. But you have rights.
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) is one of the few laws in the United States that recognizes both physical and psychological injuries sustained by railroad employees. If you are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, or depression caused by your work on the railroad, you have the right to pursue compensation—and the law is on your side. Securing a fair railroad injury settlement amount for mental health injuries is not just possible; it is an essential part of holding railroads accountable and getting you the support you deserve.
If your career—or your life—has been derailed by trauma on the job, the best step is to talk to the best New Haven, CT railroad injury lawyer at Cahill & Perry, P.C. Attorneys at Law. Call 800-654-7245 for a confidential review and protect your health, your rights, and your future.
Mental Health and FELA
FELA was enacted to provide railroad workers with a legal pathway to recover damages from railroad companies whose negligence contributes to injuries—including emotional and psychological harm. Under FELA, you are not limited to workers’ compensation schedules or caps; instead, you may recover for all actual losses that can be proven, including medical care, lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of earning potential. That means PTSD, depression, anxiety, and other trauma-related conditions linked to your railroad job are covered if you can show the railroad’s negligence played any part in causing your injury.
Mental health claims often arise after:
- Direct involvement in a catastrophic workplace accident
- Witnessing severe injury or death of a coworker or passenger
- Experiencing a “near-miss” incident or chronic dangerous conditions
- Enduring ongoing workplace harassment, bullying, or retaliation
A successful FELA claim for mental health injuries requires evidence that your emotional distress was caused by a specific event, unsafe work conditions, or other negligent conduct by the railroad.
Proving PTSD and Mental Health Claims
Unlike physical injuries, psychological injuries are harder to see, but no less real. To succeed in a mental health claim under FELA, you generally must provide:
- Proof of a traumatic workplace event (such as an accident, assault, or exposure to repeated danger)
- Medical documentation showing you have a recognized psychological diagnosis (PTSD, depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder, etc.) that is linked to the event
- Evidence showing your symptoms are a result of railroad work, not unrelated life events
Medical records, therapy notes, statements from coworkers and family, incident reports, and expert testimony are all critical in supporting your case. Courts will often consider whether you were within the “zone of danger”—meaning you were at real risk of harm, even if you were not physically injured. But there are also FELA claims where mental health injuries result from observing others hurt or killed in the course of employment.
Some FELA cases have expanded coverage for emotional distress even where there is no direct physical impact, especially when the railroad’s negligence is egregious or the trauma is severe (Consol. Rail Corp. v. Gottshall, 512 U.S. 532 (1994)).
Why Railroads Contest Mental Health Claims
Railroad companies and their insurers are notorious for fighting mental health claims. They may argue that:
- Your symptoms are pre-existing or unrelated to work
- There was no negligence on the part of the railroad
- The injury is not serious or permanent enough for damages
This is why working with a railroad injury attorney experienced in FELA claims is essential. They collaborate with psychiatrists, psychologists, and occupational specialists to build irrefutable cases for railroad settlements. They ensure that every wage loss, medical bill, and therapy session is documented—maximizing your chance for a full recovery and just compensation.
What Is Your Mental Health Claim Worth?
Every mental health claim is unique, and the value depends on factors such as:
- Severity and permanence of the psychological injury
- Impact on your ability to work and perform daily activities
- Costs of treatment (therapy, medication, hospitalizations)
- Associated physical injuries (if any)
FELA case settlements for mental health injuries have included substantial awards for PTSD after derailments, severe anxiety from on-the-job assaults, and depression following life-altering physical injuries. In most cases, careful documentation—pay stubs, benefit statements, medical records, and testimony from treating doctors—was critical. In addition, wage experts and vocational counselors help calculate the lifetime cost of a railroad disability, ensuring your railroad injury settlement amount truly reflects your losses.
Seeking Railroad Injury Settlement for PTSD? Get a FELA Lawyer’s Help
You don’t have to face the emotional fallout of a railroad injury alone. Cahill & Perry, P.C. Attorneys at Law is committed to helping you secure the compensation and care you deserve under the FELA. Our experience with the FELA claims process and complex mental health injuries means you will have powerful advocates by your side. Call 800-654-7245 or contact us today to speak with a FELA attorney and take the next step toward recovery and justice.
