Legal Definitions - Federal Employers' Liability Act

The Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) is a specific federal law that provides a means for railroad employees, or their families in cases of death, to seek compensation for injuries or fatalities sustained on the job. Unlike traditional state workers' compensation systems, FELA requires the employee to prove that the railroad company's negligence, even if it was only a slight contributing factor, caused or contributed to the injury or death. This law applies to railroads that operate across state lines or are involved in international commerce.

Here are some examples of how FELA might apply:

• Example 1: Injury from Faulty Equipment

  A locomotive engineer suffers a severe arm injury when a control panel malfunctions due to a known electrical defect that the railroad company had failed to repair. The engineer can file a FELA claim, arguing that the railroad's negligence in maintaining its equipment directly led to the injury.

  This illustrates FELA because a railroad employee was injured while performing duties related to interstate commerce, and the injury was a direct result of the employer's failure to provide safe and properly maintained equipment.

• Example 2: Death Due to Unsafe Work Environment

  A track maintenance worker is tragically killed when a passing train, operating at an excessive speed for the work zone, strikes him. The railroad company had failed to implement proper speed restrictions or provide adequate warning signals to workers in that area. The worker's family could pursue a FELA claim, asserting that the railroad's negligence in ensuring a safe work environment contributed to his death.

  This example demonstrates FELA's application in a fatality case where the railroad's failure to establish and enforce safety protocols for its employees constitutes negligence, allowing the deceased worker's family to seek compensation.

• Example 3: Injury from Inadequate Training or Staffing

  A yard worker sustains a debilitating back injury while manually lifting heavy components because the railroad company did not provide appropriate mechanical lifting aids or sufficient training on safe lifting techniques for the task. The worker alleges that the employer's negligence in providing proper resources and training contributed to his injury.

  This scenario falls under FELA because the employee's injury is linked to the railroad's negligence in providing adequate training, equipment, or staffing to ensure safe work practices, even if the worker's actions also played a minor role.