FELA Lawyer

Filing an Accident Report

If you’re a railroad worker who has been injured at work, it is important that you file an accident report with your employer immediately. While you may be tempted to just brush off your injury in order to stay in good standing with your employer, this is not advised. Your injuries may end up being more serious than you anticipated and may require medical attention.

Medical bills, along with the money that you will lose while you are not at work, can add up quickly. Promptly filing an accident report will help to ensure that you receive the medical attention and financial assistance that you need. You will also need this accident report if you chose to file a FELA lawsuit at a later date.

Why are Accident Reports so Important?

Railroad workers who file late injury reports will often be investigated. Railroads do not want to pay for the medical attention or lost wages that result from your injury, and they will often use any tactic necessary to avoid doing so. One of these tactics is to claim that railroad workers who file late accident reports are just trying to blame the railroad for injuries that occurred off duty. For this reason, it is very important that you file your accident report as soon as possible.

As a railroad worker, you may be aware that railroads compete for annual safety awards and recognition. Many times, railroad supervisors will receive bonuses or other “prizes” for having the lowest number of injuries during a work year. Railroad work crews may also receive prizes or bonuses for being safe. While you may not want to ruin anyone’s chance at a bonus, your health should come first. Sacrificing your health for someone else’s bonus is simply not worth it, no matter how much pressure is put on you or your crewmembers to keep accident reports to a minimum.

Under FELA laws, you are protected from the negligent actions of your employer. If your injury is a result of your employer’s negligence, contact a FELA lawyer to discuss the details of your case. An experienced FELA lawyer will be able to guide you throughout the complicated legal process.

Contact the FELA lawyers of Williams Kherkher today by calling 800-220-9341.