New York FELA Law

If you are a railroad worker and have been injured on the job there are laws to protect you and steps you can take to receive financial compensation. The New York railroad law firm of Cahill & Perry, P.C. are well-versed in the laws that serve New York injured railroad workers and will diligently represent you and your best interests.

The Federal Employers’ Liability Act, or FELA, is a law the United States Congress passed in 1908 to afford legal recourse for a railroad employee, regardless of their job responsibility, who has been injured on the job. Unlike general workers compensation, which is a no-fault system, if you file a claim under FELA you are obligated to prove there was negligence on the railroad employer’s part. The quantity of negligence that is required is very nominal and is sometimes referred to as the “even to the slightest degree” burden of proof.

What You Need To Do

Similar to an auto accident, the time right after your injury occurs is crucial for the preservation of the integrity of your FELA claim. As soon as you can you should do the following:

Seek medical help for your injury. Keep all related paperwork, including invoices, doctor’s reports, and X-rays.
Notify your employer about your injury and fill out the appropriate injury report.
Collect and save potential contact information for potential witnesses; take photos of the scene of the accident and your injury; record any notes about the accident for future reference.
Maintain records of time/days missed from work including physician appointments and/or physical therapy sessions.
Retain a qualified New York railroad lawyer.

New York FELA laws are written to protect you, so don’t hesitate to contact a competent New York railroad attorney to help you utilize them to their fullest extent. The attorneys practicing at the law firm of Cahill & Perry, P.C. will fight to protect your legal rights and help you obtain the maximum allowable amount of financial compensation under the law.

To schedule your initial consultation please call us at 800-576-0515, or complete the online quick contact form.

noteworthy Cases

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$10.8 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Conductor wrongful death case. (Avery v. Metro-North RR).
$8 Million settlement for an Amtrak Trackman who sustained a crushed leg. (Cevasco v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.).
$7 Million settlement for a Metro-North Foreman whose legs were amputated. (Renert v. Metro-North RR).
$5.8 Million settlement for an Amtrak Conductor who sustained a head injury. (Fitzpatrick v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.).
$5.5 Million settlement for a Metro-North Machinist wrongful death case. (Pieger v. Metro-North RR).
$4.3 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Conductor wrongful death case. (Ard v. Metro-North RR)
$2.57 Million Verdict for an Amtrak Conductor who sustained a back injury. (Pace v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.).
$2.5 Million Settlement for a Metro-North employee who sustained a serious head injury.
Settled for a Confidential Sum for a Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company Trackman wrongful death case. (Macaulay v. Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company.)
$6.250 Million Verdict in 2023 which was later reduced to $2.1 Million for a Metro-North Structural Welder/Ironworker who sustained head and neck injuries and has returned to work. (Torres v. Metro-North RR).
$2 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Lineman who sustained an electrical burn (Curly v. Metro-North RR).
$2 Million Settlement in 2020 for a Providence & Worcester Railroad Company Conductor who sustained a serious head injury and returned to work for another RR as an Engineer. (Scarpa v. Providence & Worcester Railroad Company.)
$2 Million Settlement for a Metro-North Conductor who sustained a fractured leg.
Settled for a Confidential Sum in 2019 an Amtrak Lineman involving an electrocution causing a permanent occupational disability. (Anderson v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.).
$1.85 Million Verdict for an Amtrak Ticket Agent who was assaulted. (Schneider v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.)
Compensatory and punitive damages Verdicts and subsequently settled for $1.8 Million in 2023 for a Metro-North
Conductor who suffered Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. (Moran v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority).
$1.69 Million Settlement for an Amtrak Supervisor who was shot by an employee. (Cornelius v. National Railroad Passenger Corp.)
$1.65 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Lineman who sustained foot and ankle injuries. (Keating v. Metro-North RR).
$1.65 Million Verdict for a Metro-North TA Employee who sustained an Open Tibia Fracture to his left leg. (Rivera v. Metro-North RR).
$1.54 Million Verdict for an Amtrak General Foreman who sustained a herniated disc in his lower back. (Brady v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation).
$1.45 Million Verdict for a Construction Worker who sustained a left hip injury. (Quintiliani v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation).
$1.42 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Machinist who sustained a fractured rib and a herniated disc. (Hall v. Metro-North RR).
$1.4 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Mechanical Gang Foreman who sustained burns from an explosion of steam on an engine. (Berry v. Metro-North RR).
$1.4 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Carpenter Foreman who sustained a back injury. (Kendall v. Metro-North RR).
$1.3 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Signal Trainee Maintainer who sustained a back injury from a slip and fall. (Moran v. Metro-North RR).
$1.2 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Signal Maintainer who sustained a back injury and post-concussion syndrome. (Manes v. Metro-North RR).
$1.2 Million Verdict for a Metro-North Trackman who sustained crushed legs. (Murillo v. Metro-North RR).
$1 Million Settlement for a Metro-North Trackman who sustained burns from pot welding and subsequently returned to work. (Burke v. Metro-North RR).