FEDERAL EMPLOYERS LIABILITY ACT – FELA

Unlike South Carolina Workers’ Compensation claims, the Federal Employer’s Liability Act or FELA provides that an employee must prove liability in order to recover for their on the job injury where as in State court workers’ compensation is a no-fault system.

Columbia Workers’ Comp Lawyer Ryan Montgomery handles accident, injury and workers’ comp claims in all of South Carolina including Aiken County, Anderson County, Laurens County, Lexington County, Newberry County, Richland County, Spartanburg County and Sumter County, SC. Dial (864) 207-4764 for a free consult. You can also email the firm here.

Specifically, railroad employees have a unique relationship with their employer as workers’ compensation is not available to them but instead they must file a FELA claim or lawsuit in Federal Court to prove this negligence- for workplace injury compensation.

FELA makes every interstate railroad liable for workplace injuries if “such injury … result[ed] in whole or in part from the [railroadʹs] negligence … or by reason of any defect or insufficiency, due to its negligence, in its cars, engines, appliances, machinery, track, roadbed, works, boats, wharves, or other equipment.” . So, unlike South Carolina workers’ compensation, recovery under FELA requires some degree of employer fault.

Under South Carolina workers’ compensation claims, the system is designed to make you whole and provide you with medical treatment and ultimately compensate you for any resulting disability. Under FELA, the available damages are different. This is particularly important in wrongful death cases because FELA does not allow for recovery of damages for the loss of companionship or society caused by the death. Courts have recognized the following damages in FELA case:

Damages in FELA Cases

1. The reasonable value of money, goods, and services that the decedent would have provided to the plaintiff during either the life expectancy that the decedent had before his/her death or the life expectancy of the plaintiff whichever is shorter;

2. [The monetary value of minor child‘s loss of any care, attention, instruction, training, advice, and guidance from the dead employee.

3. Any pain and suffering that the dead employee experienced as a result of [his/her] injuries; and

4. The reasonable expense of medical care and supplies reasonably needed by and actually provided to dead employee.

South Carolina FELA Lawyer

If you have a Federal Employers Liability Act – FELA lawsuit and work on a railroad, then contact South Carolina FELA attorney Ryan Montgomery for a FREE CONSULTATION. Call (864) 207-4764 today.

Columbia, South Carolina Accident Attorney Ryan Montgomery handles all types of accident cases in South Carolina including Aiken, Anderson, Clemson, Columbia, Sumter, Newberry, Greenville and Spartanburg.