Missouri Railroad Employee Wrongful Death Lawyers

Representing Families of Railroad Workers Killed on the Job

Railroad work can be extremely dangerous. Train accidents, falling cargo, switching accidents and hazardous materials can result in fatal injuries and illnesses. Depending upon the cause of the fatality, the victim’s family may be able to pursue financial compensation for their loss. This process is not always easy and it may be in the best interest of the family to seek the counsel of a skilled St. Louis accident attorney.

Railroad Employee Fatality Statistics

According to the 2007 Railroad Employee Fatalities report by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA):

• 60 percent of fatally injured railroad employees that year were Transportation and Engine employees and 40 percent were Maintenance of Way employees.
• No Maintenance of Equipment employees or Signal and Train employees were killed that year.
• Killed employees included conductors, track foremen, brakemen, bridge inspectors, crane operators, yard helper and yard foremen.
• 40 percent of the fatally injured railroad employees had at least 21 years of experience. 30 percent of the workers killed had only 0 to 5 years of experience.
• 60 percent of all fatal railroad accidents involved switching (the making up and breaking down of trains at the yard).
• Major freight railroads were involved in 80 percent of all fatal railroad employee accidents.

What Constitutes a Wrongful Death in Missouri?

The act of suffering a fatal injury at work does not necessarily constitute a wrongful death. A railroad wrongful death is when someone is killed as a result of negligence or wrongdoing. There are many forms of negligence and it is often challenging to prove liability for an accident. A skilled St. Louis wrongful death attorney can work with investigators to prove the cause of the incident and help determine who should be held liable for the fatal accident.

FELA and Negligence

The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) allows victims of railroad work accidents to pursue compensation for the injuries they have suffered because of negligence. A wrongful death claim is a civil lawsuit that allows the family of someone killed in a work injury accident to seek compensation for their losses. In both types of legal proceedings, the victim’s family will have to prove who was responsible for the fatal accident.

The skilled St. Louis wrongful death lawyers at Page Law helps families get the compensation they need and rightfully deserve for their loss. If you have lost a loved one in a Missouri railroad accident, call our offices at (314) 322-8515 to discuss your case at absolutely no cost.