--- title: FELA Attorney's Blog | Exploring the rights and issues of railroad workers | Passenger railroad injuries description: Passenger railroad injuries | Exploring the rights and issues of railroad workers for on job injuries and whistleblower claims and those of injured passengers. --- [![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 ## [Does the FELA Cover Me Before or After I Punch In or Out of Work?](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/does-the-fela-cover-me-before-or-after-i-punch-in-or-out-of-work) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Oct 8, 2020 4:17:43 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)   ![humans-studio-f1vK8PYaGps-unsplash](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/humans-studio-f1vK8PYaGps-unsplash.jpg?width=5184&name=humans-studio-f1vK8PYaGps-unsplash.jpg)   By the 1920s, the protections afforded by the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) were already well-established, but railroad work remained incredibly dangerous. Workers doing jobs in faraway locales couldn’t drive home for the night and they didn’t have money for hotels. So the railroad put them in “bunk cars” – unused rail cars sitting on track, usually in a yard. The conditions were, no surprise, often horrendous. The bunk cars had no air conditioning and it was not uncommon for them to be rodent-infested and uncomfortable. One night, a worker couldn’t stand it, and decided it would be better to sleep on the hard ground outside. When he dozed off, a passing train in the yard kicked up sparks and set him on fire. [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/does-the-fela-cover-me-before-or-after-i-punch-in-or-out-of-work) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/does-the-fela-cover-me-before-or-after-i-punch-in-or-out-of-work#comments-listing) Topics: [Passenger railroad injuries](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/passenger-railroad-injuries), [Checklist for hiring railroad lawyer](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/checklist-for-hiring-railroad-lawyer), [Railroad safety issues](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/railroad-safety-issues), [how to file your own injury claim](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/how-to-file-your-own-injury-claim), [settlements](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/settlements) ## [The NJ Transit Hoboken Fatality Could Have Been Prevented](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/gov-christie-was-wrong-about-hoboken-crash) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Sep 30, 2016 4:31:04 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![NJ-transit-hoboken-2016-train-accident](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_2372-3-624551-edited.jpg?width=1024&name=IMG_2372-3-624551-edited.jpg "NJ-transit-hoboken-2016-train-accident")When all you do for a living is sue passenger railroads like NJ Transit and freight carriers like CSX and NS, the calls start coming from clients and friends alike as soon as something like the Hoboken crash hits the news.  Everyone asks me “What happened?” [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/gov-christie-was-wrong-about-hoboken-crash) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/gov-christie-was-wrong-about-hoboken-crash#comments-listing) Topics: [Passenger railroad injuries](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/passenger-railroad-injuries), [Hoboken crash 2016](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/hoboken-crash-2016) ## [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) ## [Metro North Deadly Valhalla Train Crash Could Have Been Avoided](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/metro-north-deadly-valhalla-train-crash-could-have-been-avoided) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Feb 4, 2015 12:48:55 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![metronorth](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hub/312738/file-2440578788.jpg)Metro North's most recent disaster involving an SUV and a commuter train at a crossing in Valhalla, is also its most deadly in its 30 year history. And it could have been avoided.  We will never know what was going through the driver’s mind when she chose to drive forward across the tracks, instead of reversing out of the crossing. However, unfortunately, accidents of this type occur all too frequently. Rarely do they come with such loss of life.   As I write this, [five passengers and the driver of the SUV, which caused the accident, are reported dead.](http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2015/02/03/train-car-collide-valhalla-mass-casualties/22822737/) At least 15 more passengers have reportedly suffered severe injuries including amputations, burns and smoke inhalation.   When looking at this train accident, the first question is, “What happened?” And the next of course, is, “How do we avoid it from happening again?”   Because these types of accidents are well known to occur, the railroad industry has responded and made available various devices to minimize the potential for such an accident. While not required by Federal Railroad Administration regulation, the Long Island Railroad long ago put in place at some of its crossings sensors on the crossing gates to send a signal and allow train dispatchers to know of potential issues at a crossing. Specifically, when the gate comes down against an obstruction, a signal is sent so that the train can be alerted to either slow down or at a minimum be made aware of a potential issue.     ***Metro North on the other hand, has no such sensors on any of its crossing gates in, any of the three states in which its trains operate.*** Out west, many of the busier freight crossings have video, both live and recorded, but this is another tool which Metro North has not availed itself of.    [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/metro-north-deadly-valhalla-train-crash-could-have-been-avoided) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/metro-north-deadly-valhalla-train-crash-could-have-been-avoided#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) ## [Passengers Injured On The Railroad: 5 Questions You Need Answered Now](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/injured-on-the-railroad-5-questions-you-need-answered-now) Posted by [Marc Wietzke](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/author/marc-wietzke) on Dec 5, 2013 3:00:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ![11199312273_5f63141990_z](https://www.felaattorney.com/hs-fs/hub/312738/file-400177486.jpg?width=615&name=file-400177486.jpg) *Metro-North Railroad crews at work on Tue., December 3, 2013 repairing a damaged section of track after a derailment near the Spuyten-Duyvil station on Sunday, in preparation for limited restoration of service on the Hudson Line Wednesday morning. Photo: Marc A. Hermann [MTA Photos](http://www.flickr.com/photos/mtaphotos/)* Have you recently been hurt on the railroad, whether riding or boarding a train or at a station? If so you’re probably full of more questions than answers. You are likely wondering: - Who pays for my medical treatment? - What do I have to do to file a claim against the railroad? - How long do I have to file a lawsuit against the railroad? - How do I pay my rent, mortgage or car bills while I am out of work? - Did railroad negligence cause me to get hurt? Whether your injury is the result of a derailment like the most recent Metro North accident in the Bronx, or from a fall, say from an icy stairway at a NJ Transit station, your injury presents a unique situation where the railroad may be responsible to pay for your treatment and/or damages. The answers to these five questions will ensure you know your rights as a passenger. # **** [Read More](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/injured-on-the-railroad-5-questions-you-need-answered-now) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/injured-on-the-railroad-5-questions-you-need-answered-now#comments-listing) Topics: [Passenger railroad injuries](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/topic/passenger-railroad-injuries) [All posts](https://www.felaattorney.com/blog/all) ### 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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