Steel on steel.
Catastrophic injuries.
A passenger train derailment, a platform fall, or a grade-crossing strike in New Jersey triggers federal rail rules, public-entity defenses, and a discovery process that has to start within days. We move fast.
Federal Rail rules,
state-law claims.
Passenger rail in New Jersey is regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration (49 C.F.R. Part 234 et seq.) and the NTSB investigates serious incidents. State personal-injury law still controls your civil claim, but federal rules drive the evidence and the operational standards.
Whether you were a passenger on NJ Transit, Amtrak, or PATH, or a worker covered by FELA, the case is built around the operator's compliance with federal rail rules and its handling of the incident in the hours and days after.
The case starts
on day one.
Every train accidents matter is treated as a litigation file from the first call — because that's what wins it.
No fee unless we win.
You owe us nothing unless we recover for you. Period.
Cash advance in 24 hours.
Same-day funding can be arranged through third-party sources while your case is built.
Free, confidential case review.
An attorney — not an intake screener — reviews your matter and tells you what it's worth.
24/7 line, real people.
Evidence disappears in days. We answer the phone the night it happens.
Hurt in New Jersey?
Tell us what happened.
A New Jersey attorney personally reviews every submission — typically within the hour. No fee. No obligation. Evidence preservation begins the moment we hang up.
- Statewide coverage — every NJ county
- Preservation letters issued same day
- In-house investigation team
- Available 24/7 — nights, weekends, holidays
Request your free
consultation.
Dennis Shlionsky's Team will personally review your matter — typically within one hour. There is no fee unless we win.
Operator, infrastructure, and the human factor.
Rail cases turn on operator action, infrastructure condition, and the human factor — fatigue, signal compliance, and engineer training. We pull the federal investigation file, the operator's internal reports, and the engineer's qualification record.
Public-entity caps, federal caps, and the workarounds.
Amtrak's per-incident cap is $295 million (49 U.S.C. § 28103). The Tort Claims Act limits apply to NJ Transit. Workarounds exist — equipment manufacturers, contractors, and third-party negligence can be outside the cap entirely. We look for the angles.
What clients ask first.
I work on the rails — is my claim covered by workers' comp?
No. Interstate rail workers are covered by the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA), not state workers' compensation. FELA is a fault-based system — meaning you can recover full damages if the railroad's negligence contributed to your injury.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
Nothing up front. We work on a contingency fee — you owe us no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you. Costs are advanced by the firm and only reimbursed out of a recovery. The first conversation is free and confidential.
How long do I have to file a claim in New Jersey?
Most personal-injury claims in New Jersey carry a two-year statute of limitations under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2, running from the date of injury. Claims against a public entity (city, county, NJ Transit, the State) require a Notice of Tort Claim within 90 days under the New Jersey Tort Claims Act. Wrongful-death actions also have a two-year window. Call as early as possible — evidence does not wait.
Rail evidence
vanishes fast.
Event recorders, signal logs, and dispatcher recordings are preserved on rail-industry timelines that don't favor passengers. Call now.
Request your free
consultation.
Dennis Shlionsky's Team will personally review your matter — typically within one hour. There is no fee unless we win.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Each case turns on its own facts. The information on this page is for general educational purposes and is not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.