2018 US Code
Title 45 - Railroads
Chapter 2 - Liability for Injuries to Employees
Sec. 51 - Liability of common carriers by railroad, in interstate or foreign commerce, for injuries to employees from negligence; employee defined

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Citation 45 U.S.C. § 51 (2018)
Section Name §51. Liability of common carriers by railroad, in interstate or foreign commerce, for injuries to employees from negligence; employee defined
Section Text

Every common carrier by railroad while engaging in commerce between any of the several States or Territories, or between any of the States and Territories, or between the District of Columbia and any of the States or Territories, or between the District of Columbia or any of the States or Territories and any foreign nation or nations, shall be liable in damages to any person suffering injury while he is employed by such carrier in such commerce, or, in case of the death of such employee, to his or her personal representative, for the benefit of the surviving widow or husband and children of such employee; and, if none, then of such employee's parents; and, if none, then of the next of kin dependent upon such employee, for such injury or death resulting in whole or in part from the negligence of any of the officers, agents, or employees of such carrier, or by reason of any defect or insufficiency, due to its negligence, in its cars, engines, appliances, machinery, track, roadbed, works, boats, wharves, or other equipment.

Any employee of a carrier, any part of whose duties as such employee shall be the furtherance of interstate or foreign commerce; or shall, in any way directly or closely and substantially, affect such commerce as above set forth shall, for the purposes of this chapter, be considered as being employed by such carrier in such commerce and shall be considered as entitled to the benefits of this chapter.

Source Credit

(Apr. 22, 1908, ch. 149, §1, 35 Stat. 65; Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 685, §1, 53 Stat. 1404.)

Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS

1939—Act Aug. 11, 1939, inserted last par.

SHORT TITLE

The Act of Apr. 22, 1908, as amended, which comprises this chapter, is popularly known as the "Employers' Liability Act".

The following are also popularly known as Employers' Liability Acts:

June 11, 1906, ch. 3073, 34 Stat. 232 [Unconstitutional].

Apr. 5, 1910, ch. 143, 36 Stat. 291. See sections 56 and 59 of this title.

Aug. 11, 1939, ch. 685, 53 Stat. 1404. See sections 51, 54, 56, and 60 of this title.

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Title 45 - RAILROADS
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 45 - RAILROADS
CHAPTER 2 - LIABILITY FOR INJURIES TO EMPLOYEES
Sec. 51 - Liability of common carriers by railroad, in interstate or foreign commerce, for injuries to employees from negligence; employee defined
Contains section 51
Date 2018
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 14, 2019
Positive Law No
Disposition standard
Short Titles "Employers' Liability Act".
Statutes at Large References 34 Stat. 232
35 Stat. 65
36 Stat. 291
53 Stat. 1404
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