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more_legal_areas felaThe Federal Employers Liability Act or FELA is a federal act that was passed by Congress almost a century ago in order to help keep railroad employees safe and to hold railroad companies rightfully responsible for negligence resulting in employee injuries. FELA insurance is a significant issue in lawsuits filed under the Federal Employers Liability Act. Sometimes railroad job-related injuries are not covered by FELA. Many railroad workers do not know that there are certain limitations to their protection under FELA. Therefore it is necessary to contact an attorney if you feel that you might have a lawsuit based on your railroad employer''s negligence.
Though the FELA helps injured railroad workers to recover damages for injuries occurring on most United States railroads, there are some circumstances in which a railroad worker may not be covered for the injuries they suffer. FELA Insurance is an issue that some railroad employees are not aware of. This FELA insurance- or, potentially, the lack thereof- is necessary in order to be covered for injuries such as being involved in a vehicle accident while being transported between or within work areas. This includes circumstances when an employee is being transported in a company owned vehicle, a co-worker''s vehicle, or even the employee''s own vehicle. Often employees assume that because injuries resulting from these accidents are work related that they are covered under FELA.
FELA insurance is important to be aware of because there are circumstances in which a railroad employer is not required to provide FELA insurance- or even disclose information about it- for accidents involving uninsured or underinsured motorists. This means that if a railroad worker is involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured motorist, they may not be able to recover damages for the injuries they sustained. On several occasions, the courts have ruled that a railroad company is not responsible for notifying their employees about FELA insurance and the extent to which company-owned or privately owned vehicles are insured against accidents involving uninsured or underinsured motorists.
There are ways for railroad employees to protect themselves against liability in these types of cases. Railroad employees can purchase different types of FELA insurance. Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage can improve your chances of being compensated if the uninsured motorist is found liable for your injuries. Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage may increase the likelihood that you will be compensated for damages that the underinsured motorist cannot fully cover. Liability insurance helps to protect you if you are at fault for a vehicle accident, and can help to protect your own personal assets. This is an especially important type of FELA insurance for employees who use their own cars to transport fellow railroad employees.
A Federal Employers'' Liability Act (FELA) suit has been filed in the U.S. District Court in East St. Louis, Illinois alleging Illinois Central Railroad (ICR) failed to provide Anthony Lynch of Clinton, Ill. with a safe place to work.
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