FELA Lawyer Illinois | The #1 Railroad Accident Attorney

Ted Gianaris is the founder of our law firm and a nationally respected trial lawyer with extensive experience representing railroad workers across the country.

For decades, Ted has focused on on-the-job injury claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), holding railroad companies accountable for failing to protect their employees from preventable harm.

He has successfully taken on major carriers in high-stakes railroad cases involving toxic exposure, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death.

Ted understands the federal laws that govern these claims and guides each client through the whole process—from initial investigation to trial—with professionalism and determination.

His courtroom results and client testimonials reflect a deep commitment to fair compensation and justice for injured workers.

Some of Ted’s most significant outcomes include:

• $5.1 million jury verdict for a family affected by occupational mesothelioma
• $6.8 million toxic exposure settlement involving community contamination tied to rail operations
• Seven-figure confidential settlement for a retired rail worker diagnosed with leukemia linked to diesel exhaust
• Multi-million dollar result in a FELA case involving severe orthopedic injuries from a train yard equipment failure

Ted is personally involved in each case he takes on and has earned the respect of clients, judges, and peers nationwide for his relentless advocacy.

His experience handling railroad cases gives him unique insight into how these companies operate—and how they often fail to protect the workers who keep trains moving.

If you’re searching for a FELA attorney who brings professionalism, experience, and results to the table, Ted Gianaris is the lawyer to represent you.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a FELA Lawyer from Gianaris Trial Lawyers?

Hiring a FELA lawyer from Gianaris Trial Lawyers costs nothing up front because we work on a contingency fee basis.

This means you only pay legal fees if we win your case through a settlement or trial verdict.

For injured railroad workers and their families, this structure eliminates financial barriers to seeking justice after an on-the-job injury.

It also aligns our interests with yours—we don’t get paid unless we recover compensation for you.

This approach allows every client to access high-level legal representation without taking on additional financial risk.

The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) is a federal law passed in 1908 to protect railroad employees who are injured on the job due to their employer’s negligence.

Unlike workers’ compensation systems, which provide limited no-fault benefits, FELA requires the injured railroader to prove negligence on the part of the railroad company to recover compensation.

This may include showing that the employer failed to provide a safe work environment, proper equipment, or adequate training.

The law was enacted to recognize the dangerous nature of railroad work and to hold rail companies accountable when their actions—or inactions—lead to serious injuries or occupational illnesses.

FELA works in conjunction with other federal safety laws like the Locomotive Inspection Act and the Safety Appliance Act, which help establish minimum safety standards and may support a negligence claim.

If a railroad violates these regulations, it can serve as strong evidence in a FELA case.

The benefits of FELA extend beyond just the injured railroader—if a family member dies due to a fatal work-related illness or accident, their loved ones may bring a wrongful death claim under the same law.

FELA allows for more comprehensive compensation than traditional systems, including full lost wages, medical costs, and damages for pain and suffering.

These claims can be filed in either state or federal court, and cases are often decided by a jury.

FELA compensation may cover:

• Lost income and future earning capacity
• Medical expenses, treatment, and rehabilitation
• Pain and suffering related to physical and emotional harm
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

For those injured on the job or diagnosed with a work-related illness, FELA offers a powerful legal avenue to pursue accountability and financial recovery from negligent railroad employers.

What Injuries Qualify for FELA Claims?

Railroad jobs involve physically demanding tasks, heavy equipment, and hazardous materials, making serious injuries a constant risk for workers across all departments.

When these injuries are caused—directly or in part—by unsafe working conditions, poor maintenance, or a railroad company’s failure to follow safety laws, they may qualify for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

Unlike no-fault systems, FELA claims require injured workers to show that negligence played a role in their harm.

This includes both sudden accidents and illnesses that develop over time due to toxic exposure or repetitive strain.

Workers in roles ranging from conductors to machinists may suffer a wide range of conditions that are legally actionable under FELA.

Below are some of the most common injuries claimed in FELA lawsuits, along with how they typically occur on the job:

• Crush Injuries – From being pinned between railcars or struck by moving equipment.
• Amputations – Caused by entanglement in machinery, moving parts, or sudden railcar movement.
• Spinal Cord Injuries – Resulting from high-impact falls or collisions.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) – From being struck by falling tools, slips on slick surfaces, or equipment malfunctions.
• Fractures and Broken Bones – Due to slips, falls, or impacts with heavy rail equipment.
• Burn Injuries – From hot surfaces, electrical faults, or fuel-related accidents.
• Back and Neck Injuries – Common in workers lifting heavy tools or exposed to repetitive strain.
• Hearing Loss – Caused by long-term exposure to loud engines, horns, and shop equipment without proper protection.
• Respiratory Illnesses – From inhaling diesel exhaust, silica dust, asbestos fibers, or chemical fumes.
• Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer – Often linked to long-term asbestos or diesel exhaust exposure.
• Repetitive Stress Injuries – Affecting joints, tendons, and muscles from years of physical strain.
• Occupational Cancers (e.g., bladder, kidney, leukemia) – Resulting from toxic exposure to substances like benzene, solvents, or welding fumes.
• Lacerations and Deep Cuts – From sharp tools, sheet metal, or broken equipment.
• Electrical Injuries – Suffered by electricians or mechanics working on live systems or poorly grounded machinery.
• Eye Injuries – Caused by flying debris, welding sparks, or chemical splashes.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Arising from witnessing or surviving catastrophic incidents.
• Death – In cases of fatal workplace accidents or delayed consequences of occupational disease.

These injuries can severely impact a worker’s life and ability to continue employment, making it critical to pursue all available legal remedies under FELA.

What Railroad Workers are Able to File Claims Under FELA?

Railroad work takes place in dynamic, high-risk environments that include active rail yards, moving trains, repair shops, and field operations along the track.

These workplaces involve constant exposure to heavy machinery, loud equipment, high-voltage systems, and potentially toxic substances.

Whether it’s working inside a locomotive cab or repairing infrastructure in harsh weather, the physical demands and safety hazards are present every day.

When accidents occur or occupational illnesses develop, injured railroad workers have the right to pursue compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

This applies across a wide range of roles within the industry, each of which carries its own set of risks and responsibilities.

Railroad workers eligible to file FELA claims may include:

• Locomotive Engineers
• Brakemen
• Trackmen
• Locomotive Shop Workers
• Equipment Operators
• Welders
• Electricians
• Signal Maintainers
• Machinists
• Pipefitters
• Sheet Metal Workers
• Carmen

Illinois is a central hub in the U.S. rail network, with Chicago serving as the nation’s largest rail gateway.

The state handles over 1,300 freight, passenger, and commuter trains daily, moving more than 500 million tons of freight annually.

This extensive rail activity, while vital to commerce, also presents significant risks for railroad workers, including exposure to hazardous materials and the potential for on-the-job injuries.

Major Illinois rail yards and locations potentially linked to railroad injuries:

1. Union Pacific Global IV Intermodal Terminal – Joliet, IL: A major logistics hub handling a high volume of freight, increasing the potential for worker injuries due to heavy equipment and constant activity.
2. BNSF Logistics Park Chicago – Elwood, IL: One of the largest intermodal facilities in the U.S., where the fast-paced environment can lead to accidents if safety protocols are not strictly followed.
3. Corwith Yard – Chicago, IL: A historic yard now serving as a key intermodal terminal, where the complexity of operations may contribute to worker hazards.
4. Bensenville Yard – Bensenville, IL: Operated by Canadian Pacific Kansas City, this yard’s extensive operations can pose risks related to switching operations and equipment handling.
5. Galesburg Yard – Galesburg, IL: A significant classification yard for BNSF Railway, where the sorting of freight cars involves activities that can be dangerous without proper precautions.
6. CSX 59th Street Terminal – Chicago, IL: An intermodal terminal with high traffic, where the movement of containers and equipment requires vigilant safety measures.
7. Norfolk Southern Landers Yard – Chicago, IL: A major yard for assembling and disassembling trains, where the complexity of operations can lead to increased injury risks.
8. UP Yard Center – Dolton, IL: A crucial switching yard for Union Pacific, where the coordination of railcars and locomotives presents potential hazards.
9. CN Gateway Intermodal Terminal – Harvey, IL: A key facility for Canadian National Railway, where the handling of intermodal containers necessitates strict adherence to safety protocols.
10. CSX Barr Yard – Riverdale, IL: A significant yard for CSX Transportation, where the volume of rail traffic and yard operations can contribute to worker injuries if not properly managed.

These locations are integral to Illinois’s rail infrastructure.

If you’re a railroad worker in Illinois who was injured on the job, you may be eligible to file a claim under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

Unlike standard workers’ compensation, FELA allows railroad employees to seek full compensation when their injury or illness was caused—even in part—by their employer’s negligence.

This could include unsafe working conditions, faulty equipment, inadequate training, or failure to follow federal safety regulations.

You don’t need to be currently employed to file a FELA claim; retired or former workers can also qualify if their injury or diagnosis is linked to past railroad work.

This is especially true in cases involving occupational illnesses like lung cancer or mesothelioma that develop after years of toxic exposure.

To qualify, it’s important to document your work history, the nature of your duties, and how those conditions may have contributed to your injury or illness.

An experienced FELA attorney can help investigate your case, collect evidence, and determine whether you meet the legal criteria.

If successful, you may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, lost wages, and long-term harm.

Gather Evidence for Your FELA Lawsuit

Strong evidence is critical to proving negligence and securing compensation in a FELA lawsuit.

This includes documentation of your medical treatment, work environment, and communication with your employer following the injury.

The more detailed and organized your records, the stronger your case will be during settlement negotiations or trial.

Important evidence for a FELA claim may include:

• Medical records detailing diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing medical care
• Bills and receipts for hospital visits, medication, rehabilitation, and other related expenses
• Documentation of phone calls or written communication with your employer or supervisor
• Injury or incident reports filed with the railroad company
• Photographs of the accident scene, equipment, or unsafe conditions
• Witness statements from coworkers or supervisors
• Expert reports from doctors, safety specialists, or industry professionals
• A detailed work history outlining your job duties and exposure to hazards
• Records of time missed from work due to injury or illness

Damages in FELA Claims

In a lawsuit, “damages” refer to the financial compensation an injured person can recover for the losses they’ve suffered due to someone else’s negligence.

In the context of a FELA claim, damages are awarded to railroad workers who have been hurt on the job due to their employer’s failure to maintain a safe working environment.

These losses may include not just medical expenses, but also income you can’t earn, physical pain, and the long-term effects of your injury or illness.

With the help of experienced legal counsel, injured railroad workers can pursue full and fair compensation through the FELA process.

Common damages in a FELA claim include:

• Medical expenses and the cost of ongoing medical care
• Lost wages during time off work due to the injury or illness
• Loss of future earning capacity if the injury limits your ability to work
• Pain and suffering from physical injuries and medical treatment
• Emotional distress and mental anguish related to the injury
• Loss of quality of life or the ability to perform daily activities
• Out-of-pocket expenses, including transportation to medical appointments
• Wrongful death damages for surviving family members in fatal cases

Legal counsel is critical in identifying all potential damages and building a case that supports the full scope of your losses.

At Gianaris Trial Lawyers, we have built a reputation for representing railroad workers with professionalism, precision, and results.

Our team understands the unique challenges of FELA claims, from proving negligence to interpreting complex federal laws that govern the railroad industry.

We focus on serious injury and occupational illness cases, taking on powerful rail companies to fight for the full compensation our clients deserve.

Whether you’re suffering from a traumatic on-the-job injury or a long-term illness caused by toxic exposure, our firm is prepared to guide you through every step of the legal process.

Contact Gianaris Trial Lawyers today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you hold your railroad employer accountable and pursue fair compensation under FELA.

You can also use the chat feature on this page to get started immediately.