Shapiro, Appleton & Washburn law firm is here to help. If you or a loved one suffered injury in any sort of railroad accident, railroad crossing wreck, toxic railroad accident or derailment, or if you were diagnosed with an occupational disease or cancer, as a result of working for a railroad like Norfolk Southern, CSX, Amtrak, etc. you have legal rights. Railroad workers may bring injury or death claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), and others hurt or killed as a result of railroad activities may have claims based on negligence law.
Leaders in Railroad Accident Law
If you are looking for a highly skilled, experienced, and top-notch attorney for your railroad accident or railroad disease case, Shapiro, Appleton & Washburn is the firm for you. Why? Because we are nationally recognized as a leading railroad injury law firm. For example, firm partner Richard Shapiro was named “Lawyer of the Year” in the prestigious Best Lawyers publication for railroad law (2019 edition).
Railroad Workers Have a Unique Set of Rights Under Federal Law
When a railroad worker is seriously injured on the job, or develops a debilitating and life-threatening disease, they can pursue financial restitution through a unique federal law that was enacted specifically for the railroad industry. This is known as the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA). It was enacted in 1908 by the U.S. Congress and based upon the federal government's power over interstate commerce.
The FELA protects and applies to railroad workers hurt on the job, working in interstate commerce. It is the exclusive remedy for railroad workers who are hurt on the job as far as claims against their own railroad employer. FELA covers accidents, diseases, and illnesses arising from the railroad workplace, or occurring at places or at times that are part of the worker’s job. All types of railroad workers are covered by the provisions of FELA, the Federal Employers' Liability Act, including:
- Brakemen
- Clerks
- Conductors
- Electricians
- Engineers
- Firemen
- Machine operators
- Maintenance of way workers
- Maintenance workers
- Mechanics
- Signalmen
- Switchmen
- Welders
- Yardmasters
- Other railroad workers
Types of Railroad Cases We Handle Day-In and Day-Out
If you're curious to know what types of cases we've handled, our lawyers are seasoned in these, and many other facets of railroad injury law:
- Railroad worker injuries
- Railroad crossing crashes
- Occupational disorders
- Diseases such as lung, hearing or repetitive stress injuries
- Asbestos and mesothelioma
- Train/railroad derailments and wrecks
- Amtrak passenger train injuries
- Railroad toxic chemical spills
- Wrongful death
Sample of Our Railroad Accident Case Results
We have secured multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in numerous railroad cases and tried cases throughout the United States.
- $8.6 Million Jury Verdict for Railroad Worker Wrongful Death Case
- $1.5 Million for Railroad Bridge Worker Left With Limp After Leg Was Crushed
- Shoulder Injury requiring surgery for Locomotive Engineer results in $978,000 jury verdict
- Locomotive Engineer with Shoulder and Knee Injuries Receives $950,000 Settlement
- $900,000 Settlement for Railroad Conductor Suffers Back Injury Due to Fall in Ballast Depression
DISCLAIMER: CASE RESULTS DEPEND UPON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE. CASE RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE UNDERTAKEN BY THIS LAW FIRM.
Cost of Personal Injury Representation
Retaining a skilled and experienced railroad accident lawyer will cost you nothing up front. This is because our team of attorneys represent clients on a contingency basis. This means we do not charge you for legal services until your case is resolved. We also offer a "No Financial Recovery, No Legal Fee" guarantee. This means you owe us nothing if we do not obtain a financial recovery on your behalf.
You Only Have a Finite Amount of Time to File a Legal Claim
The general rule under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) is that you have three years from the date of your injury to file your lawsuit. If you fail to file your suit before the statute of limitations expires, your claim will probably be dismissed, and you will be out of luck. However, diseases such as cancer and leukemia are often discovered years after the employee was exposed to certain toxins and fumes associated with railroad work, including:
- Diesel exhaust
- Asbestos
- Solvents
- Silica sand
- Creosote
- Welding fumes
In a railroad disease case, since there is no specific “date of injury” the statute usually begins when the disease is diagnosed. In some limited cases, the three year statute of limitations can be “tolled” or delayed if the worker, or a reasonable person in that worker’s shoes, did not realize that his or her disease was associated with the workplace exposures.
Nevertheless, if you believe you have a claim against the railroad you or a loved one worked for, it is important to take action sooner rather than later. This is why our law firm urges injured workers to contact us right away.
Do Not Hesitate - Contact Shapiro, Appleton & Washburn Today and Speak with an Actual Attorney for Free
Since 1985, our injury law firm has ONLY handled personal injury cases, including serious railroad accident and disease cases. When you contact our office, you will get to speak to an actual attorney for free. During this conversation, you and the attorney will discuss the facts of your potential case. If it makes sense to move forward, a date and time will be scheduled for you to meet with the attorney. Once again, this initial consultation is free.
Five Reasons Why You Should Contact Shapiro, Appleton & Washburn
- We have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts on behalf of clients since our firm was founded in 1985.
- A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau.
- Recognized as a "Best Law Firm" by U.S. News & World Report (since '10) for personal injury litigation.
- 10.0 "Superb" rating on Avvo.
- Recognized as "Super Lawyers" which is a distinction less than 5 percent of practicing attorney possess.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I call or fill in the form, does that mean I am hiring your firm now?
No, this is a free confidential consultation. If you want to retain us it will be by a retainer agreement we send for your review. We only get paid if we recover for you also.
Are there upfront fees or hourly lawyer charges?
No, we are only paid a percentage of a recovery you approve, and there are no case expenses due until then.
Does your firm do anything besides personal injury law?
No, "All we do is injury law" is our slogan, and it's what we do every day, And we believe we have happy clients to prove it.