Railroad workers are generally required to file a claim with a railway representative under the Illinois’ workers' compensation procedure in order to receive any compensation for injuries. Under these guidelines, the railroad worker injured on the job must be able to prove some level of employer negligence in order to recover money. Under these circumstances, it would be wise to speak to the appropriate union legal counsel first or an experienced Chicago workers' compensation attorney at Morici, Longo & Associates.
As with any employer, the railroad industry must furnish a reasonably safe workplace for the benefit and protection of its employees. A railroad has a duty to inspect and discover defects that may result in injury, this may include uncovering defects and warning its employees of any hazardous or unsafe conditions, and is required to provide adequate training and supervision, appropriate tools and safe equipment, as well as enforcing reasonable work quotas.
When an employee is seriously injured or killed and the railroad is at fault in causing the accident, the railroad worker’s survivors are entitled to recover more than the time or wages lost.
These procedures entail a very complex process and require an experienced team of attorneys who understand the local, state, and federal laws that govern railroad operations. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by the railroad industry, whether being employed by a railroad, an accident that occurred on the railroad tracks, in a train derailment, railroad negligence, hit by a train, or a similar railroad injury, contact the attorneys at Morici, Longo & Associates at (312) 779-0366, or click here to request a completely free consultation.