Railroad Injury Settlements: What Factors Affect the Value of a FELA Claim?

Wondering How Much a Railroad Injury Case May Be Worth in Montana? Here’s What Can Influence a FELA Settlement or Verdict.

One of the first questions injured railroad workers ask is, “How much is my case worth?”

It’s a reasonable question, but there isn’t a single answer. No two railroad injury claims involve the same injuries, the same medical treatment, or the same impact on a person’s ability to work. A case involving temporary injuries may look very different from one involving permanent disability or an occupational disease that develops over many years.

Under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), compensation is based on the losses caused by the railroad’s negligence. That means the value of a claim depends on the specific facts of the case rather than a fixed schedule of benefits.

At Conner, Marr & Pinski, we’ve represented injured railroad workers throughout Montana for decades. During that time, we’ve recovered significant settlements and jury verdicts in cases involving unsafe workplaces, occupational diseases, and serious on-the-job injuries.

There Is No “Average” Railroad Injury Settlement

A settlement or verdict depends on many factors, including:

• The severity of the injury.
• Whether the worker can return to railroad employment.
• The amount of lost wages and future earning capacity.
• The cost of ongoing medical care.
• Whether permanent disability is involved.
• The evidence showing the railroad’s negligence.

Two workers with similar injuries may recover very different amounts because the circumstances surrounding their cases are different.

Railroad Injury Settlements and Verdicts Obtained by Conner, Marr & Pinski

For decades, Conner, Marr & Pinski has represented railroad employees pursuing claims under FELA and related litigation involving railroad employers. Our experience includes cases involving traumatic injuries, occupational illnesses, unsafe working conditions, and bad faith insurance practices.

Some of our railroad case results include:

• $7,400,000 stipulated judgment against BNSF Railway Company involving bad faith and unfair claims settlement practices.
• $3,000,000 jury verdict for a railroad employee who developed asbestos-related disease while working for Burlington Northern.
• $1,700,000 jury verdict for a maintenance of way employee injured while working for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway.
• $1,362,236 jury verdict for injuries suffered by a Burlington Northern railroad employee.
• $1,000,000 settlement for a Burlington Northern trainman injured while performing railroad work.
• $750,000 settlement for a carman injured because of unsafe workplace conditions.
• $700,000 settlement for a locomotive engineer injured while working in an unsafe environment.

These results reflect years of representing railroad workers throughout Montana and demonstrate the wide range of circumstances that can arise under FELA. Every case involved different injuries, different evidence, and different legal issues.

Experience Matters in FELA Cases

FELA claims differ from traditional workers’ compensation cases because an injured railroad employee must show that the railroad’s negligence contributed to the injury.

Building that case often requires understanding railroad operations, workplace safety practices, medical evidence, and the federal laws governing railroad employers. Conner, Marr & Pinski has represented locomotive engineers, conductors, maintenance of way employees, trainmen, carmen, machinists, and other railroad workers across Montana for decades, giving our team experience with a wide variety of FELA claims.

Talk With Our Montana Railroad Injury Team

If you were injured while working on the railroad and have questions about a potential FELA claim, contact Conner, Marr & Pinski for a free consultation. We’ll review what happened, answer your questions, and explain the legal options available under federal law.