Alaska FELA Lawyer
Railroads came later to Alaska than to the lower 48 states in the U.S. The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad finished building a track 111 miles long between Skagway and Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, in 1898. That compares to the railroad’s start in the lower 48 with its first tracks laid in Baltimore in the 1820’s.
Railroad rides running through Alaska are known for their phenomenal and secluded beauty. For that reason, today’s railroads in the state carry nearly as many passengers and tourists as they do freight.
A total of about 20 railroads have been built in the state. Today, the Alaska Railroad Corporation and the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad are the only remaining two.
Alaska Railroad Workers May be in Danger
Workers on the railroads in Alaska face not only the normal dangerous circumstances of railroad employment, they also must deal with the frigid weather and geographic challenges of the state. In the winter, keeping the tracks free from snow, both from snowfall as well as avalanches, is a regular task.
Snow slides that carry rock and trees with them deposit huge mounds of debris on the tracks. Before there were bulldozers, workers had to remove the rocks and trees with hand tools and explosives.
Injuries and even death were common. Although today’s modern equipment helps solve some of these problems, railroad work is a still tough and hazardous occupation. Among the most common injuries railroad workers face are:
- Back injuries
- Disfigurement and dismemberment
- Brain trauma
- Head and neck injuries
- Broken bones and joints
- Illnesses caused by exposure to toxic fumes and other poisonous materials
In the era of great railroad expansion in the Unites States injuries and deaths were becoming so common that public pressure and lobbying by the railroad workers’ labor unions eventually persuaded Congress to pass a law to protect the workers.
Known as FELA (Federal Employers’ Liability Act), the set of laws makes the railroad company responsible for paying damages to the injured worker or to the family in case of the worker’s death. In addition to compensation for injuries mentioned above, FELA attorneys are able to help their clients be paid for
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages, both present and future
Because the FELA laws are so complex and specialized, it is important to hire a FELA attorney when seeking damages.
If you or someone you love has been hurt or lost their life while working on the railroad, our FELA lawyers would be happy to offer you a free consultation. You can reach us by calling (800) 773-6770 or send us an email and an experienced FELA law attorney will contact you promptly.
