As an employee of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), your job may require you to perform strenuous manual labor underground and in other work environments where injury hazards are present. Because of these conditions, you have a higher risk of being injured on the job than an individual who works indoors or in a less physically-demanding job.
Subway workers and other railroad employees cannot file Workers’ Compensation claims after they are injured in workplace accidents. Instead, they have the option to file FELA claims, which are claims to seek compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act. Filing a FELA claim is not quite the same as a Workers’ Compensation claim because unlike a Workers’ Compensation claim, a FELA claim must demonstrate that the railroad was somehow negligent by failing to uphold certain safety standards.
Which Lines or Subway Stations are Most Dangerous for Workers?
A 2015 report by the New York Citizens Budget Commission found that of all the subway stations in the city, the most poorly-maintained and structurally insufficient were all in Queens. A few notable stations in need of safety upgrades as of 2015 included:
- 52nd Street;
- Woodhaven Boulevard;
- 111th Street;
- Woodside; and
- Broadway Station.
Many of these stations serve the 7 train. Other trains served by Queens’ structurally insecure stations include the N, Q, Z, A, and J trains.
When a Subway Worker is Injured, who is Liable for the Damages?
In 1908, the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) was passed. This law gives railroad workers the right to seek compensation for their damages following workplace injuries as long as they can prove that their employers were at least somewhat responsible for their accidents due to negligence. Under this law, railroad companies are required to:
- Hire an adequate number of employees to perform work tasks safely and efficiently;
- Provide workers with safe, effective tools;
- Develop safe procedure rules and enforce them among workers;
- Repair broken tools and equipment when necessary; and
- Perform routine safety inspections of off-premises work areas.
Common Injuries Suffered by Subway Workers
Subway workers can be injured on the job in many different ways. A few examples of ways a subway worker can be injured include:
- Deep cuts;
- Burns;
- Hearing and vision damage;
- Injuries to the head and spinal cord;
- Broken bones; and
- Back injuries from lifting and carrying heavy objects.
If you suffer an injury on the job, report it to your supervisor right away and seek medical attention as soon as you can.
Work with an Experienced New York FELA Attorney
If you are injured while working on the subway, you could be entitled to recover compensation for your monetary damages. To learn more about your rights as an injured worker and how you can proceed with your claim to seek compensation, contact our team of workplace accident attorneys at Grant & Longworth, Attorneys at Law today to set up your initial consultation in our office.
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