By: Mark Glen Sokoloff
Train accidents can result in serious if not fatal, injuries. Most of these injuries are due to negligent failures of railroad workers’ employers or common carriers. Those failures forever changed the lives of innocent victims and their families. Railroad employees are especially at risk because they work so closely to potential dangers. Hach & Rose, LLP is dedicated to helping piece together the shattered lives of such injured railroad workers. We aggressively pursue the fullest recovery possible under the Federal Employer’s Liability Act (FELA). Contact us today if you were injured on the job and want to file a FELA claim.
What is FELA?
FELA is a federal law that protects and compensates railroad workers injured on the job due to the negligence of railroad officers, agents, or employees. FELA covers bodily injuries, asbestos exposure, and injuries that accumulate over time due to the nature of railroad work. In addition to having broader coverage than workers’ compensation claims, FELA awards are generally much higher.
Proudly Representing FELA Claims
This past February Hach & Rose, LLP represented an injured railroad worker. The firm’s team of attorneys consisted of senior partner Michael Rose and Mark Sokoloff. Mark Mark is an esteemed FELA attorney with over 30 years of experience. He has served as designated counsel to many railroad organizations. The injured worker was working as a gang foreman for the Long Island Railroad. He was thrown from the shuttle wagon he was operating when a portion of the attached train derailed. As a result, he sustained injuries to his neck and head.
While the initial diagnosis was a neck sprain for which their client received minor treatment, he continued to suffer intensifying pain in his neck. Further diagnoses revealed more severe injuries. Although their client had a related pre-existing condition, the team successfully argued that the derailment was the cause of his injuries. Even though the injuries were sustained almost 12 years before the jury verdict, the team proved the Railroad’s liability and their client’s lack thereof. The client was awarded $1,400,000.
Why $1.4 Million?
The goal of civil lawsuits is to make injured victims whole again. While it is impossible to erase past injuries and the unique impact they had and continue to have, Hach & Rose, LLP ensures it will pursue all ends to provide injured railroad workers the closest possible alternative. The team considered all affected areas of their client’s life, like daily pain, the limiting aspects of everyday life, and even the impact the injury had on their client enjoying his favorite hobby – repairing and restoring old classic cars. The team’s thorough and empathetic approach was a driving force in attaining such a high recovery.
Proven Track Record With FELA Claims
Hach & Rose, LLP ensures that all the firm’s attorneys spend time familiarizing themselves with each client’s life and needs, using all related impairments as a weapon against those culpable. The firm’s FELA lawyers proven success in representing injured railroad workers is demonstrated by significant results and grateful clients, truly setting Hach & Rose, LLP apart from other firms representing FELA claims.