The Safety Appliance Act was passed in 1893 to protect the lives of passengers and workers on board trains. This act required railroad carriers to equip all locomotives operating on main lines with a sufficient number of safety appliances, such as automatic couplers and air brakes.
The Safety Appliance Act is considered one of the most robust and worker-friendly statutes created by congress. If an injured railroad worker proves a violation under the Safety Appliance Act, the railroad is strictly liable for his or her injuries. This means the railroad worker is not required to prove negligence on behalf of the railroad.
The Safety Appliance Act applies to railroads operating in interstate commerce and to their equipment. Congress passed this Act because it recognized that rail safety was a major concern for workers and passengers that rode trains at a time when train travel was much more common than it is today. The Safety Appliance Act was passed in response to a series of railroad accidents, including one near Chatsworth, Illinois that killed five people and injured over thirty others.
If you are a railroad worker who suffered injuries on the job as a result of a defective locomotive or railcar, contact Ryan Pigg immediately. Ryan Pigg has represented hundreds of railroad workers who were injured as a result of a defective locomotive or railcar. These strict liability cases are extremely favorable towards a railroad worker and you may be entitled to compensation.
