10 Misconceptions Your Boss Shares About Railroad Lawsuit Esophageal Cancer

· 4 min read
10 Misconceptions Your Boss Shares About Railroad Lawsuit Esophageal Cancer

A Railroad Lawsuit For Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Railroad workers typically have long-term exposure to carcinogenic chemical and substances like creosote, benzene, and asbestos. If  Bladder cancer lawsuit  believe that exposure to these chemicals during work caused your cancer, you could be entitled compensation.

The FELA allows railroad workers to sue for negligence. Contact a specialist railroad lawsuit acute myeloidleukemia lawyer for more details.

Benzene Exposure

Benzene is a colorless, toxic gas that can cause cancer in those who are exposed for prolonged periods of time. It is created in the environment and also through the release of gas and tobacco smoke. The human body can absorb benzene through the skin. A railroad worker who suffered from cancer as a result of exposure to benzene may be eligible to sue their employer for compensation.

In one instance a railroad employee who died widow was awarded $1,500,000 in damages from the company which employed him. The late husband worked as pumpman on several tankers during the 1970s and 1980s, and was exposed to benzene. After  Bladder cancer lawsuit  from acute myeloid leukemia in the year 1995 his wife filed a claim for wrongful death against the vessel's owner.

Acute myeloid tumor is a cancer that spreads quickly and can be fatal within a few months of diagnosis if it's not treated. The majority of patients are treated with chemotherapy, however in some cases radiation and targeted therapy can be employed.

We obtained defense verdicts for a class 1 railroad in two cases where plaintiffs claimed to have suffered injury to their brains caused by solvent exposure over their 23-year tenure on the rails. The defense presented expert testimony on medical causation as well as industrial hygiene, and the jury found that the work environment of the railroad was fairly safe.


Creosote Exposure

It is a mixture comprised of hundreds of chemicals that are used to preserve wood, such as railroad ties. It contains several known carcinogens including polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs present in creosote are in the skin and can be ingested via drinking water that has been contaminated with the chemical. PAHs are also absorbed into the lungs, where they may cause lung cancer.

Creosote-inhalation exposure can lead to a variety of symptoms such as respiratory irritation, eye problems and nausea and vomiting. It can cause skin burns in the second and third degrees. Coal tar creosote consists of a number of PAH compounds such as naphthalene and acenaphthene and fluorene.  cancer lawsuit  is also a component each of which is carcinogenic.

Creosote-related exposure can cause negative effects on the health of workers as well as their families. For instance, some employees have developed basal cell tumors papular which are common skin cancers that can spread to other parts of the body. Some workers have also suffered from chronic lung disease, esophageal and liver fibrosis, and chronic bronchitis.

The railroad industry doesn't often communicate effectively with its employees about the dangers that come with exposure to long-term toxic substances. It is not uncommon for railroad employees to leave diesel locomotives, cranes, or forklifts in operation while working. Diesel exhaust from these engines can be inhaled and consumed. They also dunk rags in benzene-containing solvents to clean machinery and tools.

Worker's Compensation

Railroad workers who develop cancer or another chronic disease because of exposure to toxic chemicals such as benzene or Creosote could be entitled to compensation for their medical costs and other expenses. A New York railroad cancer attorney could help workers pursue claims for financial damages under the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA.

Many health issues resulting from exposure to carcinogenic substances in the workplace like diesel fumes asbestos and silica are not likely to show up until a person is older. In most cases, the statutes of limitations only last three years after a person's first diagnosis. This is the reason it is crucial that anyone who is a potential victim contact an experienced railroad injury lawyer within the first few days when they are diagnosed.

In a case that was recently heard, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC successfully defended an action brought against our client by a former railway employee who was diagnosed with leukemia after years of exposure to toxic chemicals. The plaintiff alleged that the company had violated FELA by failing to train their employees and equip employees with the correct safety equipment.

The jury gave the plaintiff damages of $7.5 million after concluding that the cancer was directly related to his work at the Chicago & North Western Railroad. The man was exposed by the company to benzene and other toxic chemicals such as creosote and benzene as well as degreasing agents.

FELA

If a former railroad employee is diagnosed with cancer as a result of exposure to toxic substances while during their work or at work, they can make a claim under the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA. Contrary to workers' compensation statutes which offer victims medical expenses and some lost wages, FELA is a fault-based law that requires proof that the railroad's employer was negligent in protecting its workers from the dangers of chemical exposures.

Railroad companies typically fight FELA lawsuits that involve occupational diseases. Defense lawyers typically claim that the former employee isn't able to identify specific instances of unhealthy conditions. They are also critical of tests conducted by the government that prove the presence of carcinogens or toxins in equipment or parts employed by railways.

A successful FELA claim is paid for future and past physical pain and suffering as well as loss of enjoyment of life, psychological distress and other related damages. If the victim dies as a result of the incident, the family may bring a wrongful-death lawsuit to receive the compensation.

We work with FELA attorneys to assist railroad employees injured by injuries obtain the financial assistance they need. Contact us for an evaluation of your case at no cost. We represent railroad workers across the country including New York City, Boston and Hartford, St. Louis and Denver, among other cities.