Bohemia Railroad Accident Lawyer
Thousands of people are injured in railroad accidents each year. Unfortunately, this is a particularly common issue in metropolitan New York, where scores of passenger and freight train lines converge and so many people rely on train transportation each day.
If you were injured in a railroad accident, you may be facing many losses, including medical bills, pain and suffering, potential disability, and lost wages. Fortunately, a personal injury attorney could help you seek recovery for all these damages and potentially more. Retaining a Bohemia railroad accident lawyer could be critical to successfully pursuing compensation for your injuries.
Assigning Liability for Railroad Accidents
Railroad operators such as LIRR, Amtrak, and Metro-North are legally responsible for the safety of their lines and equipment. When railroad personnel fails in their respective duties of care, people are often injured or killed. Train derailments, track defects, defective train equipment, and poorly marked or maintained crossings all commonly lead to serious accidents, as do failures to signal, speeding, and distracted or fatigued operation by train crew members.
In many instances, train operators bear primary liability for injuries in railroad accidents. However, when factors outside an operator or engineer’s control—such as livestock on the track—cause the accident, they may not be liable.
Regardless, any incident involving trains can involve complex issues of federal and state law, and experienced legal guidance can be important to understanding potential claims and liability. Even when liability is clear, railroad companies and their insurance companies often work hard to avoid liability or pay as little as they can, but an experienced railroad accident attorney in Bohemia could work hard to help a plaintiff recover full and fair compensation.
Recoverable Damages
Railroad accidents may entitle injured parties to different types of compensation depending on the specifics of their cases. In a typical case, a plaintiff could be able to recover compensation for damages such as:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Lost earning potential
- Loss of consortium with family members
In order to protect and support any claims that they may have, it is important for accident victims to seek appropriate medical treatment as soon as possible for any injuries they sustain. Even what seems to be a minor injury can worsen over time, so getting timely treatment can be important. Moreover, established documentation of injuries can play a critical role in an accident victim’s ability to recover civil damages later on.
FELA Coverage for Railroad Workers
Railroad employees can also suffer serious injuries in a train accident, but the procedure they must follow to pursue a civil claim is different from that for passengers. It also differs from standard workers’ compensation law.
The Federal Employees’ Liability Act (FELA) covers railroad workers and provides compensation for their on-the-job injuries. This is a complex area of law, so it is often especially important to have an experienced lawyer help with FELA claims in Bohemia.
Contact a Bohemia Railroad Accident Attorney
If a railroad accident in New York injured you, seeking sound legal advice from a Bohemia railroad accident lawyer right away may be critical to your physical and financial well-being.Any injury claim can be an uphill battle without experienced legal assistance on your side, but an experienced attorney could investigate and pursue your railroad injury claim with diligence and expertise. Call today for a consultation.
