Editorial disclosure: This website is owned and operated by Phillips Law Offices. The firms listed on this site are selected and described by the site’s editors, not by an independent third-party rating service. Phillips Law Offices is featured prominently as the site’s owner.
Chicago is the railroad hub of America. More freight rail traffic passes through Chicago than any other city in the nation, and thousands of workers are employed by railroads in and around the city. When railroad accidents occur, whether involving workers, passengers, or people at crossings, the injuries are often catastrophic or fatal.
Railroad accident cases involve specialized federal laws, including the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) for injured workers. These cases require attorneys who understand railroad operations, federal regulations, and the unique legal landscape. This guide highlights a railroad accident lawyer in Chicago.
Types of Railroad Accidents
Railroad Worker Injuries
- Track maintenance accidents
- Train coupling and switching injuries
- Falls from trains and equipment
- Struck-by accidents in rail yards
- Repetitive stress injuries
- Hearing loss from noise exposure
- Toxic exposure (diesel fumes, chemicals)
Train Crossing Accidents
- Collisions at grade crossings
- Defective crossing signals and gates
- Inadequate warning signs
- Obstructed sight lines
Passenger Accidents
- Metra and Amtrak derailments
- Platform accidents
- Passenger falls and injuries on trains
FELA: The Federal Employers’ Liability Act
Railroad workers are not covered by workers’ compensation. Instead, the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) allows injured workers to sue their railroad employers for negligence. FELA provides important advantages:
- No need to prove the railroad was solely at fault
- Recovery for full damages (not limited like workers’ comp)
- Right to jury trial
- Pain and suffering damages available
However, FELA requires proving some degree of railroad negligence, making experienced legal representation essential.
Common Railroad Negligence
- Unsafe working conditions
- Inadequate training
- Defective equipment
- Insufficient staffing
- Violation of safety rules
- Failure to maintain tracks and crossings
- Excessive work hours causing fatigue
How to Compare Firms
There is no objective ranking of the “best” injury lawyer in Chicago, and you should be sceptical of any list that claims otherwise — including lists published by law firms themselves. What does exist is a set of questions that reliably separate a firm that will do the work from one that will not. Ask each firm you speak to:
- Who will actually handle my file? The lawyer in the advertisement is often not the lawyer doing the work. Ask for the name of the person who will run your case and how often you will hear from them.
- How many cases like mine have you taken to trial? Settlement value is influenced by whether the other side believes you will try the case. A firm that never tries cases negotiates from a weaker position.
- What is your fee, and what happens to costs if we lose? Contingency fees are standard, usually around one third. Case costs — filing fees, expert witnesses, medical records — are a separate question, and you should get a clear written answer about who pays them if the case does not succeed.
- What is my deadline? A firm that cannot tell you which limitations period applies to your specific facts is not the right firm. Some Illinois deadlines are one year, not two.
- What is this case realistically worth, and why? Be wary of a number promised at the first meeting, before anyone has reviewed your medical records.
Where Phillips Law Offices Fits
A disclosure, because it matters when you are weighing this advice: this guide is published by Phillips Law Offices, and we are one of the firms you could hire. We have handled Illinois injury cases since 1945 and we work on contingency, so there is no fee unless we recover for you. You should still do exactly what this guide recommends and speak to more than one firm before signing anything. Most reputable firms, ours included, offer a free consultation precisely so you can compare.
If you want to talk it through, call (312) 346-4262 or request a free case review. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome; every case depends on its own facts.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
- Medical expenses
- Future medical costs
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Wrongful death damages
Official Resources
Fighting for Railroad Workers
Railroad workers face dangerous conditions daily. When negligence causes injury, FELA provides a path to full compensation. Contact an experienced railroad accident lawyer today.
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This guide is part of our Hiring a Chicago Injury Lawyer section, where you can find every related guide on this site.