Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA)

The Federal Employers’ Liability Act is a federal law that allows covered railroad employees to seek damages for work injuries caused in whole or in part by railroad negligence. It differs from ordinary workers’ compensation because the employee must prove fault, although federal law supplies distinctive standards. FELA claims can involve unsafe equipment, inadequate training, poor maintenance, excessive force, toxic exposure, or other working conditions. Strict deadlines and railroad evidence make early investigation important.