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 case could award damages to pay medical expenses, income loss as well as pain and suffering.
Union Pacific recently awarded $7.5 Million to one of its railroad workers who was diagnosed with Leukemia. This is only one example of how the justice system stands up for the victims.
Benzene
Railroad workers are often exposed to dangerous substances and chemical solvents, which include benzene. The evaporation rate of benzene is high. liquid that can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. It is associated with a number medical conditions including cancer, blood-related cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma, and bone-marrow disease. It is also a cancer-causing agent and a component of coal tar creosote, which is used to protect railroad tieways from heat, sunlight snow, rain, and sunlight.
A former railway worker claimed that his exposure to benzene while working with coal-tar creosote create railroad ties, lead to Myelodysplastic Syndrome. This progressed to Acute Myeloid leukemia. A jury gave him $7.5 million last September.
Anyone who has been diagnosed as having cancer or other chronic illnesses because of exposure to benzene asbestos radioactive substances, and other hazardous chemicals, have the right to claim compensation under FELA. Depending on the kind of cancer or illness the time limit for filing a claim may vary, so it is imperative to speak with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.
A railroad attorney from Shaw Cowart can help you determine if your case is eligible for a FELA claim. We provide free consultations and are conversant with FELA railway workplaces, FELA and the harmful cancer-causing chemicals that railroad employees are exposed to on a daily basis.
class action lawsuit against railroads have represented railroad workers who suffered from lung cancer and other illnesses due to asbestos exposure. They were often employed in areas such as repair shops, engine rooms, and yards as well as on rail cars that were damaged or on track equipment that contained asbestos insulation that was degrading. This type of asbestos can be particularly dangerous, because when it is degraded, tiny fibers are released in the air. The fibers are breathed in by railroad workers and could cause mesothelioma or lung cancer as well as asbestosis and the pleural plaque.
Railroad workers are at risk of developing lung disease from diesel exhaust, silica sand and welding fumes. These particles and fumes can cause damage to the kidneys, lungs and gastrointestinal tract as well as blood cells. These injuries can be identified years after the initial exposure and can lead to a myriad of serious and debilitating ailments.
The recent case against Conrail exposes the risks associated with this type of work. The Appeals Court upheld a jury award of $2.3 million against Conrail, a railroad company, for a former railway employee who died from mesothelioma. The jury awarded damages for suffering and suffering, loss of companionship, future medical costs and other expenses. The case underscores the importance to work with an experienced attorney who can quickly evaluate whether a FELA claim is warranted.
Radioactive Substances
Railroad workers exposed to radioactive substances are at risk for developing certain types of cancers as well as other serious ailments. They are often concealed in the materials railroads use to clean tracks and other rail yards. They can be difficult to spot unless the railroad company is actively testing them for alpha and gamma radiation. When a railroad worker is diagnosed with cancer or another illness that was caused by exposure to carcinogenic substances on the job, they may submit an FELA claim and receive compensation from their former employer.
Railroad workers are more likely than other people to develop cancer. They are constantly exposed toxic substances that can cause lung cancer. This includes asbestos, Sand (silica) and welding fumes, or diesel fumes.
Railroad workers who have been diagnosed with cancer as a result of exposure on the job should consult a railroad lawyer as soon as is possible. They can assist them in determining whether they have a case against the former employer and pursue the appropriate lawsuits, that are based on FELA. These lawsuits can cover the payment of medical expenses and income loss as well as pain and suffering. They also can compensate for the death of a loved in an wrongful-death case. An experienced railroad lawyer can help victims receive the full amount of damages they are entitled to, under FELA.
FELA
Engineers, conductors, and train crew members work in hazardous situations where they may damage their lungs without even realizing. Former railroad workers who developed lung cancer or other conditions which could be caused by their job may claim compensation under Federal Employers Liability (FELA).
As opposed to workers' compensation FELA allows railroad employees who are injured to file a lawsuit. This includes future and past emotional and medical expenses. An attorney who is familiar with the rules of FELA could explain your options to file.
To win a FELA lawsuit, you'll have to prove that your employer acted negligently in a way. Negligence could include breaking a law or rule or not achieving the acceptable standards of care, and many more. A skilled FELA lawyer could review your case to determine whether negligence on the part of the railroad played a role in causing your illness.
There are a variety of lung diseases and illnesses could be linked to railroad exposures. If you were exposed during your railroad work to diesel exhaust or other toxins such as creosote and asbestos or creosote mesothelioma lawyers can assist you in filing a claim for compensation under the FELA. The FELA cases handled by Hughes Law Offices in the past have resulted into a variety of verdicts and settlements.