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For more than three decades, Dickinson Wright members have represented all classes of railroads in all types of matters throughout the Midwest, including Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, as well as Pennsylvania.
Our railroad lawyers have significant wide-reaching experience prosecuting railroad claims and defending railroads in wrongful death, third-party personal injury, commercial, contracts, trackage rights, property damage, Federal Employer Liability Act (FELA), environmental, easements, freight, toxic tort, trespass, condemnation, property tax, municipal and insurance coverage matters.
As industry legal practice leaders, we handled the defense of a railroad in the first PRP CERCLA action in the State of Michigan, and we regularly represent clients in state and federal courts throughout the country and before regulatory agencies and bodies.
Our lawyers are members of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, and possess the industry knowledge, legal experience, and technical know-how to critically analyze railroad accident cases and devise effective strategies for trial.
Our Services
• Defending railroads against wrongful death, catastrophic and other personal injury third-party liability claims involving public and private motor vehicle crossings, derailments and trespasser and other pedestrian injury claims
• Defending railroads in FELA wrongful death, catastrophic injury (loss of limb paralysis, closed head brain injury, mesothelioma, etc.), and non-catastrophic injury claims, including total body wear out, loss of limb, asbestos, chemical and toxic exposure matters
• Prosecuting and defending railroad crossover and trackage rights agreement claims
• Defending railroads in employment disputes
• Litigating property damage, freight disputes, offers of financial assistance disputes, and environmental damage claims, including federal, state and private ground, water and air pollution matters
• Evaluating and litigating various types of railroad insurance coverage claims and disputes
• Representing railroads in tax assessments
• Defending railroads in private, municipal, state and federal easement and federal government property condemnation actions
• Identifying and preserving critical evidence and providing effective accident scene management
• Resolving commercial issues and transactional disputes
• Resolving state and local property tax disputes
• Representing railroads in alternative dispute resolution proceedings, including arbitration, mediation and pre-suit mediation
• Mediators in railroad disputes
24-7 Availability and Critical Response Representation
Knowing that crucial evidence can fade or disappear within hours of an accident, our firm members will go to the accident scene on a moment’s notice to assure proper legal management in conjunction with a railroad’s in-house and/or outside claims investigators and otherwise direct and advise throughout an accident’s investigation. We are particularly experienced at utilizing the authorities to assist in case evaluation and litigation. In each instance, we evaluate the potential liability, preserve the evidence, identify and interview witnesses, and work with law enforcement, insurance adjusters, reconstructionists and other professionals.
Cost-Effective Comprehensive Representation
When disputes arise or litigation is threatened, we always strive to obtain the best solution at the lowest cost to our clients. Our vast knowledge of the railroad industry and experience handling virtually every legal challenge have provided us with insights that enable us to offer clients cost-effective, timely and efficient representation. Whether representing a railroad client directly or through its insurer, we are prepared to serve as national, regional, state or local counsel.