Railroad Cancer Lawyer: How to File a FELA Railroad Lawsuit
Railroad workers who are exposed to toxic chemicals have a right to make claims under the Federal Employees Liability Act (FELA). A skilled railroad cancer lawyer can evaluate your case and assist you in pursuing compensation.
Several studies have linked benzene with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Other carcinogens found on trains include creosote and diesel exhaust.
Benzene
Benzene is a component used in many industrial businesses to manufacture plastic, dyes, adhesives and solvents. It is also present in gasoline and cigarette smoke, and it has been linked to a range of health issues including acute myeloidleukemia (AML) as well as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CL) as well as multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. People working in the oil and chemical refining, or shoe manufacturing industries are more at the risk of being exposed to benzene.
In the course of their job railway workers are exposed carcinogens, including welding fumes, diesel fumes and crystallized silica. Rail workers who suffer from a long-term illness or disease as a result of exposure to work-related hazards may be able to bring a lawsuit.
Napoli Shkolnik partner Patrick Haines has filed two cases in Fort Worth, Texas, against BNSF Railway over injuries railroad workers suffered due to toxic exposures on the job. The plaintiffs two men and the other female, are claiming numerous long-term health problems, such as lung cancer, leukemia, kidney cancer, and bladder cancer.
The lawsuits filed against BNSF claim that the Railroad was negligent for not taking the necessary steps to safeguard workers from exposure to carcinogens, such as benzene. The lawsuits also assert that the Federal Employers Liability Act was in violation. class action lawsuit against railroads was enacted by Congress in 1908 to guarantee railroad workers the right to pursue employers for work-related ailments and injuries.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate is a herbicide, or chemical used to protect plants, that is used on many crops. It is also a component in Roundup which is a well-known herbicide that is used by many home and commercial gardeners and farmers. However certain studies have connected its use to specific kinds of cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated that glyphosate "is not likely to cause cancer in humans." The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer however, on the other however, has been more critical of this product and called it "probably carcinogenic."
A meta-analysis of four studies [17.26.32.found a correlation between glyphosate exposures and the risk of hairy cell leukemia (HCL). The I 2 and P values however, were not high and the heterogeneity was not enough to reach statistical significance. Trim-and-fill was not able to detect bias in publication. The meta-RR was 1.4 (95% confidence interval = 1.0-1.9).
In the European Union, where glyphosate is classified as an active substance, EFSA has conducted an assessment of the substance's risks to human health. In parallel, ECHA has carried out an assessment of the hazards of the substance. Both EU regulators have coordinated their work plans to ensure that both assessments are taken into account when a decision on renewal of the glyphosate approval made.
The EPA requires herbicide manufacturers to conduct a variety of studies focusing on the characteristics of the herbicide's toxicology as well as its environmental fate and potential non-targeted effects. The EPA also conducts formal risk assessments using these data. These evaluations quantify the likelihood of causing harm to human beings by analyzing the biomonitoring of humans as well as monitoring food residues and utilizing models of exposure.
Creosote
Creosote consists of chemicals that are used to treat and prolong the life of railroad ties. It was employed in a rail yard in Houston's Fifth Ward until 1984, and a plume of contaminant from the site has spread into a low-income, predominantly black community that is situated near. Creosote was identified as to be a possible cancer-causing chemical, and residents have been fighting for the cleanup of the site for a long time.
In a recent cancer verdict, a former employee of the railroad filed a lawsuit against his employer, claiming that exposure to creosote, solvents used to degrease and other dangerous substances led to his development of cancer. He claims to have developed myelodysplastic syndrome that progressed to acute myeloid cancer. The plaintiff claims that he was responsible to remove railroad ties and drop them off and then set them up "soaking wet."
The lawsuit also states that he suffered from burns to his feet, hands and head, as well as from poor eyesight and weight gain as a result of the medication he's on to treat his disease. He also was suffering from impotence and memory issues. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with leukemia, an attorney can assist you in determining whether toxic chemicals in your workplace could have contributed to the condition.
Asbestos
Asbestos was a key component of railroad operations even though it's now prohibited. Railroad workers who handled or were exposed to the harmful material faced an elevated risk of developing cancers such mesothelioma as well as other pulmonary diseases. Asbestos is broken down into microscopic thin fibers which can travel throughout the body, and end up in the lungs. This can cause scarring of the lungs, known as mesothelioma and asbestosis. It is a fatal lung cancer that affects the lining of your lungs.
Railroad workers were exposed to hazardous chemicals like Creosote and benzene. Despite the dangers, certain railroad companies have ignored and denied asbestos-related risks for years. It could have been because asbestos was profitable, and the company hoped employees wouldn't be able to prove negligence.
People who have contracted illnesses or diseases as a result of exposure to railroad material on the job should consider filing a FELA complaint. Compensation can help injured employees as well as their families and employers pay for medical costs and other financial loss.
A FELA attorney can review your case and determine the exact amount you could be entitled to. Contact an experienced railroad injury lawyer today to arrange an initial consultation for free.