--- title: FELA Attorney's Blog | Exploring the rights and issues of railroad workers (4) description: Exploring the rights and issues of railroad workers for on job injuries and whistleblower claims and those of injured passengers. (4) --- [![fw-fela-logo.png](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/fw-fela-logo.png?width=504&name=fw-fela-logo.png "fw-fela-logo.png")](https://www.felaattorney.com/) ![lpheader-blog-header.jpg](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LP_Headers/lpheader-blog-header.jpg?width=1024&name=lpheader-blog-header.jpg "lpheader-blog-header.jpg") ## FELA Attorney's Blog | Exploring the rights and issues of railroad workers and rail passengers ## [What To Do If You Were in the Amtrak Crash: A 30 Day Timeline](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/what-to-do-if-you-were-in-the-amtrak-crash-a-30-day-timeline) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Jun 4, 2015 9:50:31 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![amtrak-philly-crash-2015.jpg](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hub/312738/file-1397106112.jpg?width=1000&name=file-1397106112.jpg "amtrak-philly-crash-2015.jpg") For over 240 families, the crash of Amtrak Train #188 wasn’t over with the start of the next news cycle. Injuries and treatment persist. Deaths continue to weigh heavy. If you are in that group, or have a friend who is, you know your tragedy is still a real and present force, even if the rest of the country has moved onto summer. And there is a lot to sort out. **If you're still dealing with the aftermath of the Amtrak crash, here are 10 things you can expect to deal with in the next 30-90 days, based on my years inside the railroad industry representing workers. **You can read the [most urgent questions and answers for crash victims here](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/six-urgent-questions-for-injured-passengers-on-amtrak-188). *Note: This blog isn’t legal advice. It’s meant to be educational and give you an idea of what you’ll be facing. Your lawyer should help walk you through these frustrating hurdles, including filling out forms.* [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/what-to-do-if-you-were-in-the-amtrak-crash-a-30-day-timeline) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/what-to-do-if-you-were-in-the-amtrak-crash-a-30-day-timeline#comments-listing) Topics: [Train accidents](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/train-accidents), [amtrak](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/amtrak), [how to file a claim against railroad](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-to-file-a-claim-against-railroad) ## [An Open Letter to Law Students And Plaintiff Lawyers: Save The Trial Attorney](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/an-open-letter-to-law-students-and-plaintiff-lawyers-save-the-trial-attorney) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Jun 4, 2015 8:00:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![how to become a trial lawyer](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/5825972682_d7d4eae5bc_z.jpg?width=1024&name=5825972682_d7d4eae5bc_z.jpg "how to become a trial lawyer") Last month I found myself standing at a podium accepting an attorney hall of fame award, and it was a little weird. Here I was, a lawyer in a room full of lawyers, and no one understood the kind of law I practice or could relate to why I spent so much time in the last year in front of juries. [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/an-open-letter-to-law-students-and-plaintiff-lawyers-save-the-trial-attorney) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/an-open-letter-to-law-students-and-plaintiff-lawyers-save-the-trial-attorney#comments-listing) Topics: [Thoughts on the legal industry](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/thoughts-on-the-legal-industry), [trials](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/trials) ## [Amtrak Knew How to Make Its Trains Safer, And Didn't](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/amtrak-knew-how-to-make-its-trains-safer-and-didnt) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on May 19, 2015 5:06:36 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![amtrak-safety-ptc](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2017/IMG_5071.jpg?width=1404&name=IMG_5071.jpg "amtrak-safety-ptc")   Saturday morning I read [Dennis Hamill’s NY Daily News story](http://bit.ly/1bWtusn), based on an interview with a grieving father whose son, a 45 year-old father of two himself, died needlessly in the Amtrak derailment. I want to tell this dad, he is absolutely right. His son didn't have to die. In so many ways, this accident, or outcome, was avoidable.  [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/amtrak-knew-how-to-make-its-trains-safer-and-didnt) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/amtrak-knew-how-to-make-its-trains-safer-and-didnt#comments-listing) Topics: [Railroad safety issues](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues), [commuter](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/commuter), [Train accidents](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/train-accidents), [injured passengers](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/injured-passengers), [amtrak](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/amtrak) ## [Without PTC, Amtrak and Railroad Industry Are Out of Control](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/without-ptc-amtrak-and-railroad-industry-are-out-of-control) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on May 15, 2015 9:38:23 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![amtrak ignores ntsb safety warnings on PTC](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/amtrak_signage-367513-edited.jpg?width=494&name=amtrak_signage-367513-edited.jpg "amtrak ignores ntsb safety warnings on PTC")   They knew what to do, but chose not to do it   Even as we try to sort out what lead Amtrak #188 to accelerate into a curve in Philly, which required deceleration, we are reminded that the very railroad which is supposed to be the prototype for safety for all others, is not keeping up.  [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/without-ptc-amtrak-and-railroad-industry-are-out-of-control) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/without-ptc-amtrak-and-railroad-industry-are-out-of-control#comments-listing) Topics: [Passenger railroad injuries](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/passenger-railroad-injuries), [Railroad safety issues](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues), [commuter](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/commuter), [reporting safety concerns](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns), [Train accidents](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/train-accidents), [injured passengers](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/injured-passengers), [NTSB](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/ntsb), [amtrak](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/amtrak) ## [Six Urgent Questions For Injured Passengers on Amtrak #188](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/six-urgent-questions-for-injured-passengers-on-amtrak-188) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on May 14, 2015 3:04:01 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![Mayor-Nutter-5-13-15 WGAL Philadelphia](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mayor-Nutter-PHOTO-5-13-15.jpg?width=326&name=Mayor-Nutter-PHOTO-5-13-15.jpg "Mayor-Nutter-5-13-15 WGAL Philadelphia") While NTSB officials sift through train wreckage for a cause of Tuesday night’s devastating Amtrak derailment, the loved ones of the dead and the injured will embark on a much more difficult mission. [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/six-urgent-questions-for-injured-passengers-on-amtrak-188) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/six-urgent-questions-for-injured-passengers-on-amtrak-188#comments-listing) Topics: [Train accidents](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/train-accidents), [injured passengers](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/injured-passengers), [amtrak](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/amtrak), [how to file a claim against railroad](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-to-file-a-claim-against-railroad) ## [Amtrak Signal Foreman Recovers $2.9 Million After Train Sideswipe](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/amtrak-signal-foreman-recovers-2.9-million-after-train-sideswipe) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Apr 30, 2015 4:00:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![amtrak-signalman-million-dollar-verdict](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/amtrak_trains_in_shop.jpg?width=1404&name=amtrak_trains_in_shop.jpg "amtrak-signalman-million-dollar-verdict")   Last month, Joe*, a signal foreman with Amtrak, received almost $3 million from a jury verdict in his lawsuit against Amtrak after he was hit by a LIRR train on a jobsite. Joe was supervising the installation of trough along the right-of -way of the busiest interlocking in the U.S. at 3:30 in the morning when he was hit by a train he never saw coming. The jobsite, located east of the East River in New York was inside a ditch six feet from the center line of a live adjacent track. Joe didn’t know it, but at the moment he turned to step out of the ditch, an LIRR train was approaching at 30 mph. Because the watchman never blew his horn, Joe stepped up out of the ditch and into the side of the train. The impact left him with a mild traumatic brain injury and a spinal injury requiring fusions. It also ended his career as a signal foreman with the railroad. He had 15 years to go to retirement. [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/amtrak-signal-foreman-recovers-2.9-million-after-train-sideswipe) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/amtrak-signal-foreman-recovers-2.9-million-after-train-sideswipe#comments-listing) Topics: [verdict](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/verdict), [FELA recovery](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/fela-recovery), [FELA injury](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/fela-injury), [how much is my case worth?](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-much-is-my-case-worth) ## [How Much is My Railroad Whistleblower Case Worth?](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/how-much-is-my-railroad-whistleblower-case-worth) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Apr 16, 2015 8:23:41 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![how much is my whistleblower case worth](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hub/312738/file-525173086.jpg?width=574&name=file-525173086.jpg "how much is my whistleblower case worth")If you’ve been penalized for reporting an on-the-job injury or safety hazard you are covered by the whistleblower amendments to the Federal Railroad Safety Act. [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/how-much-is-my-railroad-whistleblower-case-worth) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/how-much-is-my-railroad-whistleblower-case-worth#comments-listing) Topics: [Railroad safety issues](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues), [whistleblower](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/whistleblower) ## [Five Types of Railroad Injury Lawyers to Watch Out For](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/five-types-of-railroad-injury-lawyers-to-watch-out-for) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Mar 16, 2015 8:00:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![railroad-lawyers-to-watch-out-for.jpg](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/railroad-lawyers-to-watch-out-for.jpg?width=450&name=railroad-lawyers-to-watch-out-for.jpg "railroad-lawyers-to-watch-out-for.jpg") You got hurt on the job and your fellow railroad workers are telling you to get a lawyer. Sounds like good advice since recovering from and paying for your injury could be harder than you thought. But be careful. There are a few railroad lawyers, aka [FELA attorneys](https://www.felaattorney.com/), out there who don’t have your best interests in mind. Just as there are lots of good things to look for in a railroad lawyer, there are equally as many bad traits that should make your radar go off and have you looking for the door. In more than 15 years representing injured rail workers in trials, I have seen some sketchy tactics by other attorneys and I’ve seen some of their clients suffer because of it. *Here are five traits I would watch out for when choosing a lawyer:* [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/five-types-of-railroad-injury-lawyers-to-watch-out-for) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/five-types-of-railroad-injury-lawyers-to-watch-out-for#comments-listing) Topics: [how to hire a railroad lawyer](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-to-hire-a-railroad-lawyer) ## [Need to Hire a Railroad Lawyer? Your 7 Point Checklist](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/need-to-hire-a-railroad-attorney-your-7-point-checklist) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Mar 4, 2015 9:45:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![fela-attorney-railroad-injury-lawyer.jpg](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hub/312738/file-433849585.jpg?width=1024&name=file-433849585.jpg "fela-attorney-railroad-injury-lawyer.jpg")   You’ve been injured on the job and you have never hired a railroad lawyer before. How do you choose the right one? Carefully. [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/need-to-hire-a-railroad-attorney-your-7-point-checklist) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/need-to-hire-a-railroad-attorney-your-7-point-checklist#comments-listing) Topics: [how to hire a railroad lawyer](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-to-hire-a-railroad-lawyer) ## [A Closer Look at the Vahalla Train Accident](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/a-closer-look-at-the-vahalla-train-accident) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Feb 6, 2015 5:00:00 AM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![metro north valhalla train accident](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hub/312738/file-2448751898.jpg?width=1024&name=file-2448751898.jpg "metro north valhalla train accident") This week’s [deadly car and Metro North train accident](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/metro-north-deadly-valhalla-train-crash-could-have-been-avoided) in New York shined a light on the danger drivers, passengers and railroad workers face at crossings. [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/a-closer-look-at-the-vahalla-train-accident) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/a-closer-look-at-the-vahalla-train-accident#comments-listing) Topics: [Railroad safety issues](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues), [commuter](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/commuter), [Train accidents](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/train-accidents) [Previous](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/page/3) [All posts](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/all) [Next](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/page/5) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [FELA injury (31)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/fela-injury) - [FAQs on the job injuries (24)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/faqs-on-the-job-injuries) - [Basic steps to filing a fela lawsuit (20)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/basic-steps-to-filing-a-fela-lawsuit) - [Railroad safety issues (19)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues) - [FELA recovery (15)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/fela-recovery) - [whistleblower (13)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/whistleblower) - [Rights of Railroad workers (11)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/rights-of-railroad-workers) - [settlements (10)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/settlements) - [reporting safety concerns (8)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/reporting-safety-concerns) - [how to file a claim against railroad (7)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-to-file-a-claim-against-railroad) - [verdict (7)](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/verdict) - [how much is my case worth? 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