Railroad Cancer Lawyer: How to File a FELA Railroad Lawsuit
Railroad workers who are exposed to toxic chemicals have a right to claim compensation under the Federal Employees Liability Act (FELA). A lawyer who specializes in railroad cancer will evaluate your case and assist you in seeking compensation.
Benzene has been linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a variety of studies. Creosote and the exhaust of diesel are also carcinogens and are found in trains.
Benzene
In many industrial businesses, it is used to create plastic, dyes and adhesives. It is also found in gasoline, cigarette smoke and has been linked to a variety of health issues like acute myeloid lymphoma (AML) chronic lymphocytic Leukemia (CL), Multiple Myeloma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Personnel working in the oil, chemical, refining, and shoe manufacturing industries are at greater risk of being exposed to benzene.
Railroad workers are typically exposed to a variety of carcinogens in the course of their jobs, such as welding fumes, diesel fumes and silica. Rail workers who develop a long-term illness or disease as a result of workplace exposure may be able file a lawsuit.
Patrick Haines, a partner at Napoli Shkolnik and Napoli Shkolnik, has filed two lawsuits in Fort Worth, Texas against BNSF Railroad over injuries railroad workers suffered from toxic exposures while on the job. railroad lawsuit are male and female who claim to have suffered from leukemia, lung cancer and bladder cancer.
In the lawsuits filed against BNSF the claim is that the Railroad was negligent in not protecting its workers from carcinogens, such as benzene. The lawsuits also claim that the Federal Employers Liability Act was in violation. The law was enacted by Congress in 1908 to give railroad workers the right to pursue employers for work-related ailments and injuries.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate is a herbicide, or chemical that protects plants, which is applied to many crops. It is also an ingredient in Roundup which is a popular weed killer that is used by both home and commercial gardeners. However certain studies have been linked to its use in the treatment of certain kinds of cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said that glyphosate "is not likely to cause cancer in humans." The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer, on the other on the other hand, has been more critical of this product and called it "probably carcinogenic."
A meta-analysis involving four studies [17.26.32.discovered a link between glyphosate exposure and risk of hairy-cell leukemia (HCL). The I 2 and P values however, were both low and the heterogeneity did not make it statistically significant. A trim-and fill analysis was not able to reveal bias in publication. The meta-RR was 1.4 (95 percent confidence interval = 1.0-1.9).
EFSA has conducted an assessment of the risks of glyphosate to human health in the European Union where it is registered as a substance active. In parallel, ECHA has carried out an assessment of the hazard associated with the substance. The two EU regulators have coordinated their plans of work so that the results of both assessments will be taken into consideration when deciding on the renewal approval for glyphosate.
The EPA requires herbicide producers to conduct a variety of studies focusing on the chemical properties of the herbicide, environmental fate, and potential non-targeted adverse effects. The EPA also conducts formal risk assessments using these information. These assessments assess the probability of causing harm to humans through analyzing the biomonitoring of humans as well as monitoring food residues and utilizing models of exposure.
Creosote
Creosote, a chemical mix, is used to extend the life of railroad ties. It was used until 1984 in a railyard located in Houston's Fifth Ward. A plume of contaminant has spread to a predominantly black, low-income neighborhood within. Creosote is a suspected carcinogen and residents of the neighborhood have been fighting for years to clean the area up.
In a recent verdict by the railroad, an ex-railroad worker filed an action against his employer. He claimed that exposure to creosote and degreasing agents, as well with other harmful substances have led him to develop the cancer. He claims to have contracted myelodysplastic disease, which progressed to acute myeloid cancer. The plaintiff claims he was responsible for removing and dropping off railroad ties, after which he erected them "soaking wet." He says that the chemicals got soaked into his clothes and skin when he worked and he also claimed that he did not had the appropriate protective equipment.
The lawsuit also asserts that he was burned to his hands, feet, and head, and from bad eyesight and weight gain due to the medications he is taking to treat his illness. He also was suffering from impotence and memory issues. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with Leukemia, an attorney can assist you in determining whether toxic chemicals in your workplace may contribute to the disease.
Asbestos
Although it's now banned in the United States, asbestos once played a crucial role in railroad operations. Railroad workers exposed to asbestos or who dealt with it were at a higher risk of developing cancers such as mesothelioma, and other lung diseases. Asbestos is broken down into microscopic thin fibers that can traverse the body and lodge in the lungs. This can lead to lung scarring, called mesothelioma or asbestosis. It is a fatal disease that affects lungs lining.
Railroad workers were exposed to dangerous chemicals such as benzene and Creosote. Despite the dangers of asbestos, some railroad companies omitted and denied the risks of asbestos for decades. It may have been that asbestos was profitable, and they hoped employees wouldn't be able prove negligence.
Those who have developed illnesses or illnesses as a result of exposure to railroad materials on the job should think about making a FELA complaint. Compensation is a way to help injured workers family members and employers cover medical costs and other financial losses.
A FELA lawyer will review your case and determine the maximum amount you could be entitled to. Contact an experienced railroad injury lawyer today to schedule a free consultation.