FELA: An Overview
In the late 1800s, railroad expansion was a major undertaking in the U.S.
Unfortunately for the many workers employed by the railroad companies, this was an extremely dangerous job.
To keep railroad workers protected, a law was put into place: the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA.
Under FELA, railroad workers and their families became entitled to sue the railroad companies for compensation
in the event that they were injured or killed on the job. Read on to learn more about the history of FELA,
your rights under this act, and how you can obtain the compensation you deserve.
The History of FELA
1889 and 1920
Between 1889 and 1920, the railroad industry in the U.S. grew exponentially. This expansion led to increased dangers for railroad workers.
7 Years
In fact, the average life expectancy for a switchman working in 1893 was just 7 years, and the odds of a railroad brakeman dying on the job in 1888 were nearly four to one. When injuries and deaths occurred on the job, railroad workers and their families were not entitled to any form of compensation.
1908
This changed in 1908, however. FELA was passed by Congress, allowing injured railroad workers to sue their employers for compensation in the event they were injured on the job, and also enabling their families to sue if they were faced with the death of a family member. This act finally held railroad companies accountable for the dangerous conditions in which they placed their employees.