A Railroad Lawsuit Esophageal Cancer Success Story You'll Never Be Able To
A Railroad Lawsuit For Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Railroad workers typically have long-term exposure to carcinogenic chemicals as well as substances such as creosote, benzene and asbestos. If you think that exposure to these chemicals during work caused cancer, you may be entitled compensation.
The FELA law allows railroad workers to sue their employers for negligence. Contact a specialist railroad lawsuit acute myeloidleukemia lawyer for more information.
Benzene Exposure
The colorless, toxic gas that can cause cancer to people who are exposed to it for long periods of time. It is naturally produced in the environment, as well as through the combustion of gas and smoking tobacco. The skin is also able to absorb benzene. Railroad workers who developed cancer due to exposure to benzene might be eligible for financial compensation from their employer.
In one case the deceased railroad employee's widow was awarded $1,500,000 in damages from the company which employed him. union pacific railroad lawsuit was a pumpman on several tankers throughout the 1970s and 80s. He was frequently exposed to toxic benzene. His wife filed a claim for the wrongful death of the vessel owner after he died in 1995 of acute myeloid lymphoma.
Acute myeloid tumor is a cancer that spreads quickly and can be fatal within several months after diagnosis if it's not treated. It is usually treated by chemotherapy. However, in certain cases, targeted therapy or radiation may be used.
We obtained defense verdicts for a class 1 railroad in two cases where plaintiffs claimed injuries to their brain from solvent-induced exposure over their 23 years on the rails. The defense presented expert testimony by a medical expert regarding causality, industrial hygiene and the jury found that the railroad workplace was fairly safe.
Creosote Exposure
Coal creosote, also known as tar, is a blend of hundreds of chemicals that are used to protect wood, like railroad ties. It contains several known carcinogens including polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs that are found in creosote are taken up through the surface of the skin or ingested by drinking water that is polluted with this chemical. PAHs can also be absorbed into the lungs where they may cause lung cancer.
Inhalation exposure to creosote can trigger a variety of symptoms such as irritation to the respiratory tract, eye problems nausea and vomiting. It can cause third and second degree burns to the skin. The coal tar creosote contains composed of PAH compounds, including naphthalene as well as other carcinogenic compounds such as acenaphthene.
Creosote exposure could affect the health of family members and employees as well. Certain workers have developed papular basis cell carcinomas (common occupational skin cancers) which can be spread to other parts of the body. Others have been affected by chronic lung disease the liver fibrosis, esophageal, and esophage and chronic bronchitis.
In many cases, the railroad industry does not adequately inform employees about the dangers of prolonged exposure to toxic substances. It is not uncommon for railroad employees to leave cranes, diesel locomotives or forklifts on the road while they work. Diesel exhaust from these engines could be inhaled and consumed. They also soak rags in benzene containing solvents to clean machinery and tools.
Workers' Compensation
Railroad workers who contract cancer or another chronic disease due to exposure toxic chemicals, such as benzene and Creosote, could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses and other expenses. Bladder cancer lawsuit can assist workers in pursuing claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) for financial damages.
Many illnesses that are triggered by occupational exposure to carcinogenic chemicals like diesel fumes asbestos and silica, do not show up until a person is older. Therefore the statute of limitations generally only lasts for three years from the point an individual is first diagnosed with the disease. It is therefore crucial to contact an attorney who handles railroad injuries as soon as they can after being diagnosed.
In a recent case Napoli Shkolnik PLLC successfully defended the suit brought against our client by a former railway employee who was diagnosed with leukemia following years of exposure to toxic chemicals. The plaintiff claimed that the firm was in violation of FELA for not providing their employees with the necessary safety equipment and education.
The jury awarded the plaintiff damages of $7.5 million after concluding that the cancer was directly linked to his work at the Chicago & North Western Railroad. The man was exposed harmful chemicals such as benzene, creosote, as well as degreasing solvents while working for the company.
FELA
If a former railway worker is diagnosed with cancer caused by exposure to toxic substances while at work, they may make a claim under the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA. In contrast to workers' compensation statutes which provide medical expenses and loss of wages to the victim, FELA is a statute based on fault that requires evidence of the railroad's employer not protecting their employees from the dangers of exposure to chemicals.
Railroad corporations often fight FELA claims that involve occupational diseases. union pacific railroad lawsuit claim that the former employee is unable to identify particular instances of ailment. They also point out the absence of tests conducted by the government that prove the presence of carcinogens, or toxins in equipment or parts employed by railways.
In a successful FELA claim family members of the victim are entitled to compensation for their past and future suffering and pain, loss in enjoyment of life, mental stress, and other damages. If the victim is killed in the process then the family can file a wrongful-death claim to claim compensation.
We work with FELA attorneys to assist injured railroad employees get the financial help they require. Contact us for a complimentary consultation. We represent railroad workers across the country, including New York City, Boston, Hartford, St. Louis, Denver, and other cities.