Train Accidents
Settlements & Verdicts of New York City Personal Injury lawyers
- Construction site accidents
- Medical and other professional malpractice
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Slip and fall
- Premises liability
- Wrongful death
- Lead poisoning
- Asbestos and mesothelioma
Below is just a sample of the numerous multi-million dollar awards that have been settled by the law firm.
- $5.5 million dollar settlement in a medical malpractice case against an obstetrician/gynecologist for injuries to an infant during childbirth.
- $3.7 million dollar structured settlement for injuries in a motor vehicle accident as follows: $2.5 million dollars for the husband, a severely injured driver of a car and $1.2 million dollars for is wife for the loss of services, society and consortium of her injured husband
- $3.5 million dollar settlement for a construction worker, an ironworker, who was injured on the job losing part of his leg.
- $3.1 million dollar structured settlement against a hospital and obstetrician/ gynecologist for the death of a woman during child birth.
- $3.1 million dollar settlement for an ornamental ironworker who suffered injuries when he fell off an unsafe ramp on a construction site.
- $3.1 million dollar settlement in a medical malpractice action for a 68 year old woman who suffered a stroke during surgery as a result of the negligence of an anesthesiologist.
- $3 million dollar settlement for a construction worker who, while performing his job, was struck by a New York City Sanitation truck suffering leg and back injuries.
- $2.62 million dollar settlement for a structural ironworker suffering leg and back injuries as a result of falling off a scaffold.
- $2.5 million dollar settlement for a young woman, a passenger in a motor vehicle which struck a horse on a road on an Indian reservation in Arizona.
- $2.5 million dollar settlement against the doctors and hospital for failing to diagnose and treat a pneumothorax (collapsed lung).
How Does FELA Differ From Workers’ Compensation?
FELA cases are subject to a three-year statute of limitations, which means that you must commence your action within three years of the date of the injury, or your claim will be forever barred. Also, it is important to note that although the worker's own negligence will not bar recovery, the amount of the award will be reduced.
One must be careful, however, not to confuse FELA with workers' compensation. In workers' compensation, the employee gives up the right to go to court in exchange for prompt payment of benefits according to a predetermined schedule. Although such payments are considerably less than what one would expect to recover in a lawsuit, there is no requirement of a trial for the injured worker to prove negligence or fault on the part of the employer.
FELA (Federal Employers Liability Act) cases may be brought in state or federal court. The decision of which forum to pursue depends on many factors and can be a critical component of your case. An attorney knowledgeable with FELA cases and the laws in your state will be able to determine the best course of action.
The Law Office of Harrington, Thompson, Acker & Harrington, LTD - Chicago FELA Attorneys
180 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60606
(800) 828-5828
(312) 332-8811
Understanding FELA and Railroad Accident Injuries
In 2008, there were nearly 2,500 train accidents in the U.S., involving 27 fatalities. Illinois had the second highest number of accidents in the nation. The Federal Railroad Administration defines a train accident as an event involving on-track rail equipment that results in monetary damage to the equipment and track above a certain threshold. However, when all accidents/incidents involving railroads are reported, the number of accidents climbs astronomically to 12,480 for the year, with 796 fatalities and over 8,500 injuries.
Railroad worker injuries are governed by the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA).  FELA was enacted in 1908 to protect and compensate railroad workers for on-the-job injuries. State workers' compensation statutes followed shortly thereafter.
FELA requires the worker to prove negligence on the part of the railroad in order to recover. Recovery, however, is not limited to a schedule of payments based on the type of injury; rather, the worker is entitled to recover various damages, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Loss of earnings
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
The Law Office of Harrington, Thompson, Acker & Harrington, LTD - Chicago FELA Lawyers
180 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60606
(800) 828-5828
(312) 332-8811
Out-of-State Accidents
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE AN OUT-OF-STATE ACCIDENT VICTIM?
For an out-of-state accident with injuries, you usually need to sue within the state in which you were injured. However, if you live in Pennsylvania and you are insured while driving in another state, contact experienced Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer, Paul R. Weber for help. Our law firm has referral relationships with other law firms across the country that we believe are able to represent you reliably in the state in which you were injured.
Assisting those who need to file a claim who are from another state brings unique challenges for both the plaintiff and the local attorney. Fortunately, there are attorneys in all states who have made the business of representing out-of-state accident victims a focal point of their practice. Consequently, they are often well-versed in these difficult situations and therefore a more reliable legal counsel for you than an attorney within the state who has not done this before.
For out-of-state victims of a Pennsylvania accident
Likewise, if you are an out-of-state visitor to Pennsylvania and you are injured in an accident while you are here, you should seek a Pennsylvania injury attorney and, ideally, one that is located in the region where you had your accident.
If your injury accident was in Bucks County, contact Paul R. Weber. With a concentration in personal injury law, Paul R. Weber is one of the premier accident and injury lawyers in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with a proven record of getting strong settlements and awards for people injured and killed in accidents.
Finding qualified out-of-state accident injury lawyers
Again, if you are a Pennsylvanian, contact us and we can help you find a qualified out-of-state accident lawyer. Otherwise, make sure that you look for these qualities when seeking a good out-of-state accident attorney on your own:
- Personal injury experience—a firm with significant personal injury litigation experience
- Knowledgeable in representing out-of-state clients—which greatly eases the process of being a plaintiff from another state
- A helpful, respectful demeanor—a lawyer whose attitude makes it clear that he or she knows they work for you, not the other way around
- A strong reputation—a firm reputed for its integrity and tenacity
- A ready team of witnesses—possessing a well-rounded rolodex of respected, expert witnesses whose testimony is able to lend credence to your case
- Responsiveness—one who acts immediately to prepare a plan of action and responds promptly to messages
