How Much Can Railroad Lawsuit Multiple Myeloma Experts Make?
Railroad Lawsuit - Exposure to Toxins Causes Emphysema and Mesothelioma
As a result of their work railroad workers are exposed to a variety of harmful toxins. Asbestos, a material used in older train cars to line them and insulate them, is one such hazardous substance.
Unfortunately, these dangerous substances can cause serious harm to the lung of railway workers. Our FELA lawyers assist victims of lung diseases caused by railroads hold corporations accountable for their negligence.
Asbestos
Although railroads have fallen out of favor as a mode of transportation in recent years as more people switch to cars, trains still play a vital role in the nation's transportation network. Therefore, railroad workers have long been exposed to a myriad of toxic substances that can affect their health. Particularly, our Boston asbestos exposure for railroad workers lawyers have noted that railway workers are usually at risk for developing lung diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.
Asbestos can be a deadly substance that is able to break into tiny, thin fibers that can be breathed into the lung. These fibers can cause severe scarring of the lung tissue, which can result in a variety of serious respiratory ailments, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
A man who was diagnosed with mesothelioma, after 30 years of employment with the railroad has filed a suit against Illinois Central Railroad. He claims the railroad knew about it and allowed him to work in hazardous environments without providing appropriate safety equipment or warnings of possible hazards. Leukemia lawsuit claims he breathed in diesel fumes as well as chemicals, dust and powders, along with other particles that impacted his lungs.
The man claims that the Illinois Central Railroad did not provide him with adequate medical care, hospitalization surgical, and therapeutic treatment for his injuries and ailments. According to the lawsuit, the railroad did not fulfill their Federal Employers Liability Act duty to provide a safe working environment for employees.
Diesel fumes
The fumes generated by diesel engines can be harmful to a railroad worker's health. In some instances, these fumes can cause lung diseases such as COPD. In the case of a machinist had to breathe in diesel exhaust while at work his employer failed to provide adequate protection equipment. The man developed COPD due to this exposure and is now using oxygen tanks every day.
In the United Kingdom, where diesel engine exhaust is a common sight in workplaces like garages and bus depots, a recent article published by The Guardian reports that "UK legal cases increase over exposure to the toxic diesel fumes." Diesel exhausts contain high levels of nitrogen oxides which can be harmful to human health. Nitrogen oxides may cause irritation to the nose, eyes and throat. They can also trigger short-term symptoms such as a cough or phlegm. The inhalation of diesel fumes can cause chest discomfort and wheezing.
In addition to diesel fumes, other pollutants that are found in certain rail yard areas include chemicals, creosote, dust and powders. These toxic substances are inhaled and can cause long-term issues like COPD or lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified diesel engine exhausts as a carcinogen. The agency also warns that exposure to diesel exhaust can increase the risk of bladder cancer in men and women.
Smoking
A railroad conductor has filed a claim for occupational illness recently and claimed that his prolonged exposure at work to toxic chemicals caused him to develop COPD. The claimant claims that his employer failed to provide him with adequate safety equipment, allowing him to breathe in hundreds of chemicals every day. These contaminants include diesel exhaust, fumes silica, creosote coal smoke, metal dusts sulfur dioxide, benzene, dioxins, chemical cleaners and other airborne irritants.
The problem with these poisons is that they're capable of reaching deep into the lung tissue, which can cause damage and eventually lead to chronic obstructive lung disease commonly referred to as COPD. The chronic illness can cause shortness of breath wheezing, chronic coughing and weight loss. In some cases, it can also cause asthma.
The Federal Employers Liability Act, 45 U.S.C., provides compensation for railroad employees suffering from emphysema and other respiratory illnesses caused by their work. 51. This law requires that railroad companies offer their employees a workplace that is reasonably secure.
Unfortunately this isn't always the case. Railroad companies are aware of the risks that are inherent to their work but they often fail to protect workers. FELA was established to hold railroads accountable for their mistakes. If you've suffered from an illness that is related to your railroad career, contact an expert mesothelioma lawyer who has handled successfully FELA cases.