15 Things You've Never Known About Railroad Lawsuit Acute Myeloid Leukemia

FELA and Railroad Lawsuits

People exposed to toxic chemicals, such as diesel exhaust, coal fumes or asbestos could be diagnosed with serious illnesses like cancer. A successful FELA claim could provide compensation for medical expenses, loss of income pain and suffering, among other things.

Union Pacific recently awarded $7.5 Million to one of their railroad workers who developed Leukemia. This is only one illustration of how the justice system stands up for the victims.

Benzene

Railroad workers often work with chemical solvents, as well as other hazardous substances, such as benzene. The liquid, which is extremely evaporative is absorbed by the skin or inhaled. It has been linked with a number medical conditions including cancer blood-related cancers, such as Lymphoma and Leukemia, and bone-marrow diseases. It is also a cancer-causing agent and part of coal tar creosote, which is used to shield railroad ties from heat, sunlight rain, and snow.

class action lawsuit against union pacific railroad claimed that his exposure to benzene while working with coal-tar creosote make railroad ties, led to Myelodysplastic Syndrome. This progressed to Acute Myeloid Leukemia. A jury handed the man $7.5 million in September last year.

People who have been diagnosed as having cancer or other chronic diseases due to exposure to radioactive substances benzene asbestos and other toxic chemicals, have the right to claim compensation under FELA. Depending on the type of cancer or illness the statute of limitation can vary, which is why it is crucial to speak with an experienced lawyer as soon as is possible.

A railroad attorney at Shaw Cowart can help you determine if your case is eligible for a FELA claim. We provide free consultations and are familiar with FELA and railroad workplaces as well as the hazardous cancer-causing substances that railroad employees face on a daily basis.

Asbestos

Our lawyers have represented railroad employees who developed lung cancer or other health conditions due to asbestos exposure. They typically worked in areas like repair shops, engine rooms and yards or on rail cars with derailments or track equipment that contained deteriorating asbestos insulation. This type of asbestos is particularly dangerous because, when it deteriorates tiny fibers are released into the air. The fibers are breathed in by railroad workers and could cause mesothelioma, lung cancer asbestosis, and the pleural plaque.

Railroad workers are at risk of developing lung disease due to diesel exhaust, silicasand, and welding fumes. These fumes can cause harm to the kidneys, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. These injuries can be diagnosed years after the first exposure and can cause a variety serious and debilitating diseases.

Recent case against Conrail highlights the dangers that come with this type of work. The Appeals Court upheld a jury award of $2.3 million to Conrail, a railroad company, for an employee of the railroad who died of mesothelioma. The jury awarded damages for pain and suffering, loss of companionship, future medical expenses and other losses. The case highlights the importance of working with a seasoned attorney who can quickly evaluate whether an FELA claim is justified.

Radioactive Substances

Railroad workers who are exposed to radioactive substances are at risk of developing certain types of cancers as well as other serious diseases. These substances are usually hidden in the materials used by railroads to clean tracks and other rail yards. It can be difficult to detect them unless the railroad company screens for alpha and Gamma radiation. If a railroad employee develops cancer or another illness caused by exposure to carcinogenic substances during their work, they may make a FELA and receive compensation from his former employer.

Railroad workers are more likely than other workers to develop cancer. This is due to the fact that they are constantly exposed to chemicals that can lead to lung cancers, such as asbestos as well as sand dust (silica), diesel fumes, welding fumes, and creosote.

Railroad employees who have been diagnosed with cancer as the consequence of exposure to the workplace should speak to an attorney for railroads as soon as possible. They can help them determine whether they have a claim against their former employers and make the appropriate lawsuits under FELA. These claims can be based on compensation for medical costs as well as loss of income and suffering and pain. In addition, they can compensate for the loss of a loved ones in a wrongful death claim. A knowledgeable railroad attorney can assist victims receive the full amount of compensation they are entitled to under FELA.

FELA

Conductors, engineers and train crew members work in dangerous environments where they can damage their lungs and not even realize it. Former railroad workers who developed lung cancer or another condition that could be caused by their work can seek compensation under Federal Employers Liability (FELA).

In contrast to workers' compensation, FELA allows railroad workers who are injured to file a lawsuit. This includes past and future medical costs and emotional suffering. An attorney familiar with FELA rules can inform you the options available to.

In order to win a FELA lawsuit, you'll need to prove that your employer acted in a negligent way. The definition of negligence can be as simple as breaking a law or rule, failing to meet an acceptable standard of care, or any other. A skilled FELA lawyer can review your case to determine whether negligence on the part of the railroad contributed to your illness.

Railroad exposure can lead to a variety of lung diseases. If you were exposed to asbestos, diesel exhaust creosote and other toxins throughout your work on the railway and you are a mesothelioma patient, a certified attorney can assist you in filing for compensation under FELA. Hughes Law Offices has handled FELA cases in the past and have resulted in various settlements and verdicts.