West Virginia FELA Overview

West Virginia FELA Lawyers

CHARLESTON • HUNTINGTON • PARKERSBURG • WHEELING • MORGANTOWN • WEIRTON • FAIRMONT • BECKLEY • CLARKSBURG Houston

Are you a railroad worker who has suffered an on-the-job injury? The Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) establishes the procedures for injured workers to recover compensation. Due to the complexities of these procedures, injured workers are best served by working with an attorney who understands the nuances of FELA — to seek maximum compensation on the injured's behalf..

The attorneys of Gordon & Elias L.L.P. have more than 40 years of experience fighting for the rights of injured railroad workers throughout West Virginia. We help people who have suffered a range of injuries at work, from head injuries to lost limbs. To speak to a West Virginia FELA claims attorney in a free consultation, call us toll free at 800-773-6770 or contact us online.

Gordon & Elias, L.L.P. also represents FELA claimants for repetitive or cumulative trauma claims. For an in-depth discussion of the different types of cumulative claims please visit:

• Whole Body Vibration [WBV]
• Ankle & Knee Cumulative Injury

FELA was enacted to establish the authority of injured workers to recover compensation for a range of injuries caused by railroad employer negligence. It was very apparent to the government that railroad employees faced risks and dangers in this particular line of work. Congress addressed the problem of railroad worker injury claims by allowing them to file FELA claims for damages in either state or federal court.

FELA also makes it easier to prove the railroad's liability, reducing the burden of proof for ordinary negligence and, in some cases, actually waiving the need to prove negligence if the railroad violated a safety statute or regulation.

At Gordon & Elias L.L.P., we can help you in every aspect of your FELA claim, from explaining the FELA claims process to explaining what compensation is available in regards to the type of injury sustained.

We limit our caseload so we can focus fully on providing great customer service. When you choose us to represent you in your railroad accident case, you will work directly with an attorney — not an associate or paralegal.

We know firsthand how dangerous the railroad industry is. Railroad workers face dangers and risks every day on the job. We are focused on helping people just like you recover after an accident. If you have been injured on the job, contact Gordon & Elias L.L.P. for a free consultation about how we handle FELA claims.

Counties, cities and other locations wherein FELA workers in West Virginia are Monroeville, Erie, Altoona, Johnstown, New Castle, Beaver, Butler, Washington, Greensburg, Uniontown, Somerset, Indiana, Kittanning, and Waynesburg, and Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Westmoreland, Washington, Lawrence, Erie, Cambria, Indiana, Blair, Armstrong, Greene, and Monongalia.

The following is a list of all the railroads operating in West Virginia and covered under FELA:

Appalachian and Ohio Railroad (AO), Beech Mountain Railroad (BEEM), CSX Transportation (CSXT), Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad (DGVR) operates Durbin Railroad and West Virginia Central Railroad (WVC), Elk River Railroad (ELKR), Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), R.J. Corman Railroad/West Virginia Line (RJCV), South Branch Valley Railroad (SBVR), Vaughan Railroad (VRR), Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway (WE), Winchester and Western Railroad (WW)

The above railroads range from Class I through Class III railroads and some are very small short line railroad companies. Nevertheless, anyone injured while working for these railroads would have a FELA claim and should report their claim and seek legal advice.

Freight railroads are classified by the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) based on annual operating revenues as follows:

Class I – annual revenues greater than $258.5 million;
Class II- annual revenues between $40 million and $258.5 million; and
Class III- annual revenues under $40 million.

These railroads are deemed as passenger railroads in the State of West Virginia: Amtrak (AMTK), Cass Scenic Railroad, Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad, MARC, Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad and South Branch Valley Railroad

MARTINSBURG • JUNCTION • MASON TOWN • MATHIAS
NORTH MATEWAN • NORTON • RAGLAND • RAMSEY

40 years of Combined Experience Representing Injured Railroad Workers