Railroad workers face some of the most dangerous conditions in America—yet when injuries strike, companies often prioritize profits over people.
Whether you’ve been hurt in a derailment, suffered hearing loss from years of exposure, or endured a life-altering accident due to faulty equipment, you’re not alone, and you’re not powerless.
Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), you have the right to pursue compensation for workplace injuries caused by negligence, unsafe conditions, or insufficient safety protocols.
At Third Coast Lawyers, we stand with the men and women who keep Wisconsin’s railways running.
We understand the pressure, the pain, and the uphill battle injured rail workers face when going up against powerful rail corporations.
This isn’t just about a settlement—it’s about protecting your health, your livelihood, and your future.
If you’re hurt while working on the railroad, your rights don’t fall under traditional workers’ compensation.
Instead, you’re protected by the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA)—a powerful law that holds railroads accountable when negligence plays a role.
Unlike standard work injury claims, FELA allows you to recover full damages, including pain and suffering, lost future wages, and loss of enjoyment of life. Even if your employer was only partially responsible, you can still recover compensation. This law was enacted for railroaders, providing them with the tools to combat unsafe practices and corporate corner-cutting.
Yardmasters. Engineers. Signal techs. Conductors. Regardless of your role, if you work around trains, danger is an inherent part of the job.
Wisconsin rail yards—especially those in Milwaukee, Madison, and Superior—report increasing injuries tied to equipment failure, outdated safety protocols, and long shifts under hazardous conditions.
Common incidents include:
We don’t just read your accident report—we investigate it with experts who know the rail industry inside and out.
These injuries are often minimized on paper, but they can have a permanent impact on a worker’s body, career, and future. We build every case to reflect the full reality, not just what is written in the incident report.
When train couplings fail or heavy machinery malfunctions, workers can suffer devastating injuries to their limbs.
Crush incidents, derailments, and yard equipment accidents often lead to amputations, nerve damage, or complex orthopedic trauma.
Many clients require prosthetics, advanced surgical reconstruction, and long-term rehabilitation that extends for years.
Exposure to diesel fumes, silica particles, and asbestos fibers has been linked to respiratory illnesses, cancers, and permanent lung damage.
Railroad workers are at risk even when symptoms do not appear for decades. Under FELA, employees can still file claims for diseases like pulmonary fibrosis or mesothelioma when medical experts link the condition to job-related exposure.
Climbing railcars, walking uneven ballast surfaces, and performing the same high-strain motions for years can result in herniated discs, torn ligaments, and chronic joint damage.
Many workers are told these injuries are just part of aging or “wear and tear.”
We gather expert medical opinions to demonstrate that these conditions are the result of preventable strain, poor equipment design, or unreasonable workloads.
FELA grants railroad workers powerful legal rights, but those rights are meaningless unless they are asserted in a timely manner.
Unlike typical workers’ compensation, FELA allows you to demand full accountability—and financial justice—when an employer’s negligence changes your life.
Under FELA, even a small act of negligence by your employer can make them legally responsible. That could mean providing faulty tools, failing to train you properly, or ignoring a known safety hazard in the yard. You do not need to prove your employer was entirely at fault—just that their action or inaction contributed in some way to your injury.
You are not required to see a company doctor or accept limited care. With FELA, you control your medical treatment.
That includes second opinions, specialist care, and physicians who will document the true extent of your injury for the legal record.
You generally have three years from the date of injury to file a FELA claim. However, if your condition was not diagnosed until later—as is common with occupational illnesses like cancer or hearing loss—the clock may start when the disease was discovered.
Acting quickly preserves evidence, witness accounts, and your strongest legal options.
FELA does not stop at your immediate supervisor. Railroad injuries often involve multiple layers of negligence. Identifying every responsible party is critical to securing maximum compensation.
Rail operators have a legal duty to maintain safe working environments, secure tracks, and inspect locomotives.
When management overlooks maintenance, ignores safety complaints, or pushes unrealistic schedules that lead to injury, the company can be held liable.
When a defective switch, a faulty brake system, or a poorly designed locomotive contributes to an accident, the manufacturer may be brought into the claim.
FELA allows for third-party liability when unsafe equipment plays a role in your injury.
Many railroads outsource tasks like hazardous waste cleanup, welding, or infrastructure upgrades.
If these third-party teams fail to follow safety procedures or create dangerous work conditions, they, too, can be held accountable for the harm they cause.
Whether you were crushed by equipment, exposed to toxins, or pushed past your breaking point, we see what others overlook, and we fight like your future depends on it.
Railroad work doesn’t stop at state lines—and neither do we. At Third Coast Lawyers, we represent injured railroad workers throughout the Upper Midwest under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), including cases in Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri.
Our attorneys understand the inherently interstate nature of rail operations and the complex federal protections that govern the rights of railroad workers.
We serve employees of major carriers like BNSF, Union Pacific, Canadian Pacific, and Canadian National, as well as regional railroads, yard switching crews, and railroad contractors.
Whether you were hurt in a Milwaukee yard, exposed to toxins in southern Illinois, or suffered a spinal injury near the Twin Cities, we bring a unified legal strategy backed by knowledge of the courts, regulations, and railroad operations in all four states.
Our team routinely handles multi-jurisdiction FELA claims involving:
We maintain a deep familiarity with critical rail hubs across the region—from Chicago to Minneapolis, and from St. Louis to Superior—and have established relationships with railroad safety consultants, medical specialists, and economists who understand the full scope of railroad employment.
With Third Coast Lawyers, you don’t need to hire multiple attorneys in different states.
We offer seamless representation that secures your rights under federal law, no matter where your injury occurred or where your career has taken you.
FELA doesn’t limit your recovery the way state workers’ comp systems do. It allows injured railroad workers to pursue full compensation for every impact the injury has on their life, past, present, and future.
If your case qualifies under FELA, your damages may be significantly higher than what traditional workers’ compensation would allow.
You may recover all reasonable and necessary medical expenses related to your injury, including emergency room visits, surgeries, hospitalizations, physical therapy, and long-term rehabilitation.
Many injured workers require prosthetics, adaptive equipment, home modifications, and comprehensive care plans for their ongoing needs.
FELA recognizes the full medical toll of catastrophic rail injuries and does not cap these costs.
FELA allows recovery of both lost wages and future earning capacity.
If your injury has made it impossible to return to railroad work—or to any comparable employment, you may be entitled to the difference between your pre-injury income and your post-injury earnings for the remainder of your career.
We work with vocational and economic experts to calculate your full financial losses and make sure no future income is left off the table.
Unlike workers’ comp, FELA provides compensation for pain and suffering. That includes physical pain, emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress.
Many injured workers lose their sense of identity, independence, or ability to participate in everyday life. These non-economic damages are real and recoverable under federal law.
When a railroad injury leads to a fatality, FELA empowers the surviving spouse, children, or other dependents to seek wrongful death compensation.
This includes funeral and burial expenses, the loss of financial support, and the emotional devastation of losing a loved one.
FELA also allows punitive recovery in cases of gross negligence, sending a powerful message to negligent railroads.
Railroads have their own investigators, legal departments, and claims adjusters all trained to limit your recovery. You deserve a team that knows how to fight back and win. At Third Coast Lawyers, we’ve spent our careers standing up for railroad workers who’ve been hurt on the job.
Our attorneys have decades of experience handling FELA cases across Wisconsin and beyond.
We are familiar with the legal system, federal regulations, and the tactics employed by rail companies.
We’re also familiar with the regional railroad infrastructure—Milwaukee yards, Madison terminals, Superior freight routes—which gives us a strategic advantage in local cases.
Every FELA case we take on includes a full team approach. We work with industrial engineers, economic loss specialists, vocational rehabilitation experts, and treating physicians who understand the medical and occupational realities of railroad work.
This expert network strengthens your case from the ground up and prepares us to counter defense experts effectively.
We’re proud to represent railroad workers across Wisconsin—and we do so with the confidence and resources of a national litigation team.
You won’t be passed off to a call center or junior associate. You’ll work directly with experienced trial lawyers who take your case personally and fight to win you every dollar you deserve.
From Madison to Milwaukee, we help railroad families rebuild after tragedy with expert litigation, no upfront fees, and relentless advocacy. This is what justice looks like.
What is FELA, and how does it help injured railroad workers?
FELA is a federal law that allows railroad workers to sue their employer for negligence or other work-related injuries. It covers more than workers’ comp, including pain, suffering, and lost future earnings.
How is a FELA claim different from workers’ compensation?
Unlike workers’ comp, FELA requires proof of employer negligence, but it also allows for larger payouts and includes full medical costs, emotional damages, and wage loss.
Who qualifies to file a FELA claim?
Any railroad worker involved in interstate commerce—including conductors, engineers, signal maintainers, and yardmasters—may be eligible under FELA.
What kinds of injuries are covered under FELA?
FELA covers both sudden injuries (e.g., crush accidents, falls) and long-term harm (e.g., back injuries, toxic exposure, asbestos-related disease).
What if I was hurt while working outside of Wisconsin?
We handle multi-state FELA claims. You can often choose the most favorable court, even if the injury happened elsewhere.
How long do I have to file a FELA claim?
You typically have three years from the date of injury or diagnosis to file under FELA. Occupational illnesses may qualify for delayed discovery rules.
Third Coast Lawyers empower clients through education, experience, and advocacy — helping injury victims understand their rights and pursue the legal remedies they deserve.
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