Under Illinois law, trains are considered common carriers and are required to treat riders with the highest degree of care. This means that they must adhere to all state and federal safety laws. If they do not comply with such laws and you are injured as a result, you are entitled to be compensated for your injuries. Such compensation can cover medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering, among other things, depending on the degree of your injury.

It is strongly recommended that you hire a personal injury attorney with train accident experience. That is, someone who knows very well the local and federal safety laws the railroads are required to follow. You want someone who will take the time to listen to you and understand your case and be able to assess where the railroad went wrong.

If, instead, you were not a passenger but rather a railroad employee who was injured on the job, you will be compensated under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). To recover under FELA, you will have to show that your employer did not provide a reasonably safe place to work. Again, it is strongly recommended that you hire an attorney with train accident experience to discuss your options under FELA. FELA is a complex statute and you want someone to explain the nuances to you and someone who is well equipped to fight for what you deserve.

If you are worried about the cost of hiring an attorney, note that personal injury attorneys typically take cases on a contingency basis. This means that if you are compensated for your injuries – whether via a settlement or a jury award – your attorney is paid a percentage of that compensation. If, however, you do not recover anything, then your attorney does not get paid. You should never be asked to put forth any money – whether for court filing fees or expert witnesses. Personal injury attorneys consider this the cost of doing business. You are not expected to pay anything unless you “win.”

Located near the Sears Tower in Chicago, Seidman Law Offices have been serving the needs of personal injury clients since 1986. Attorneys Steven J. Seidman and Christopher D. Freeman consistently produce positive outcomes in complex cases. They regularly represent clients in FELA and railroad accident cases throughout Illinois.

At Seidman Law Offices, they put your needs first. Their attorneys and staff are easily accessible, knowledgeable, and dependable. Past clients and other lawyers frequently refer difficult cases to their law firm because they know they are extremely devoted to customer service. They are responsive to your questions and concerns and go the extra mile to accommodate your needs. They work with clients on nights and weekends by appointment and meet with you at home or in the hospital if you cannot come to their Chicago office.

Contact Seidman Law Offices for customized service from a qualified lawyer. They operate on a contingency fee basis for all their FELA and railroad injury cases—you pay nothing for our services until they reach a settlement or positive verdict.

Tags: Chicago Railroad Injury Lawyers, Illinois FELA Attorneys

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