Most FELA cases have a three-year filing timeline, which means that if a worker does not start their claim within three years of being injured, they miss out on compensation. However, with claims involving the long-term ramifications of a railroad company’s negligence, such as esophageal cancer, the timeline can be extended. Often, a worker who is exposed to toxic substances like diesel or asbestos will not receive a cancer diagnosis until many years down the line. In cases such as this, the worker would have three years from the date they learned of their illness to file a FELA claim or when they first realized that claim could be work-related.