Title 45 — RailroadsRelease 119-73
§55 Contract, rule, regulation, or device exempting from liability; set-off
Title 45 › Chapter CHAPTER 2— - LIABILITY FOR INJURIES TO EMPLOYEES › § 55
Summary
Agreements, rules, or devices that try to let a common carrier avoid the responsibilities this law creates are void. But if a carrier is sued under this law, it can subtract from what it owes any amount it paid or contributed by insurance, relief benefits, or other compensation to the injured employee or the person entitled to them for that same injury or death.
Full Legal Text
Title 45, §55
Railroads — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Any contract, rule, regulation, or device whatsoever, the purpose or intent of which shall be to enable any common carrier to exempt itself from any liability created by this chapter, shall to that extent be void: Provided, That in any action brought against any such common carrier under or by virtue of any of the provisions of this chapter, such common carrier may set off therein any sum it has contributed or paid to any insurance, relief benefit, or indemnity that may have been paid to the injured employee or the person entitled thereto on account of the injury or death for which said action was brought.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
45 U.S.C. § 55
Title 45 — Railroads
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73