Maryland FELA Law Attorneys

The first common-carrier railroads in the United States got their start in Maryland with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, chartered on Feb. 28, 1827, by a group of Baltimore businessmen. They were energized to compete with the establishment of the Erie Canal, connecting New York City with the Port of Albany at Buffalo.

Besides being the first common-carrier railroad, the B & O was among the first railroads to:

  • Use the efficient diesel powered locomotive in the 1930’s
  • Air condition its passenger trains
  • Use electric locomotives
  • Streamline trains to make them more attractive to passengers
  • Build dome cars for passengers

Maryland has an unusual mix of rails through the mountains and along the coast, plus local short lines and steam-powered trains for tourists. Downtown Baltimore contains the world-famous Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum which hosts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

Early railroad building and maintenance was difficult, heavy and dangerous work. For close to the first 100 years, railroads were built and maintained by human labor. Picks and sledgehammers were the common tools of the trade. All the following were done by hand:

  • Carving the way through mountains
  • Driving spikes
  • Repairing or installing new rails
  • Laying ballast
  • Replacing ties
  • Maintaining ditches
  • Ensuring alignment of rails

Some of these jobs are still done by hand today.

Physical Injuries & Repetitive Stress Injuries Common in Railroads

Such heavy-duty, dangerous work led to many injuries and deaths. As the miles of track increased so did the wounded and fatally injured. A public outcry arose in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, led by the railroad labor unions. Even President Theodore Roosevelt was pressuring Congress to pass laws to protect railroad workers who were not then and are not today covered by workmen compensation laws.

Finally, in 1908, Congress passed the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). FELA made the railroad companies responsible for reimbursing the workers who were injured, or in the case of those who died, reimbursing their families.

Maryland FELA Lawyers Continue to Protect Injured Workers

Today, Maryland FELA lawyers are well versed in the intricacies of the railroads and labor law. If you or someone you love has been injured on the job working for the railroads, you should seek the best counsel possible to represent you to recover damages. Our Maryland FELA attorneys are specialists in FELA procedures. We can help you receive the best financial rewards you can for the pain and suffering of injuries or the loss of a loved one. For a free consultation with a Maryland FELA lawyer, you may contact us by calling (800) 773-6770 or send an email and a professional will be in touch with you shortly.