37-9-501. Death or injury due to negligence.
Every person or corporation operating a railroad in the state shall be liable in damages to any person suffering injury while he is employed by the person or corporation so operating any railroad, or, in case of the death of an employee, instantaneously, or otherwise, to his or her personal representative, for the benefit of the surviving widow or husband and children of the employee; and, if none, then of the employee's parents; and, if none, then of the next of kin dependent upon the employee, for the injury or death resulting in whole or in part from the negligence of any of the officers, agents, or employees of the person or corporation so operating the railroad in or about the handling, movement, or operation of any train, engine, or car, on or over the railroad, or by reason of any defect or insufficiency, due to its negligence, in its cars, engines, appliances, machinery, track, roadbed, works, or other equipment.