A Railroad Lawsuit For Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Rail workers are frequently exposed to chemicals and substances that can cause cancer, like asbestos and benzene. If you think that exposure to these chemicals while working caused cancer, you may be entitled to compensation.
The FELA law allows railroad employees to sue their employers for negligence. Contact a dedicated railroad lawsuit acute myeloid leukemia lawyer for more details.
Benzene Exposure
Benzene, a colorless toxic gas is a cancer-causing gas if exposed to for a long period of time. It is naturally produced in the environment, as well as through gas emissions and tobacco smoke. The human body can also absorb benzene through the skin. A railway worker who has been diagnosed with cancer as a result of exposure to benzene could be eligible to sue their employer for compensation in the form of money.
In one case, the widow of a railroad employee who passed away was awarded $1,500,000 by the company which employed her husband. The late husband worked as pumpman on several tankers in the 1970s and 1980s and he was regularly exposed to benzene. When he passed away from acute myeloid leukemia in the year 1995 His wife filed a wrongful death claim against the vessel's owner.
Acute myeloid leukemia can be a fast-moving cancer that can cause death in a few months if not treated immediately. Most commonly, it is treated with chemotherapy. However, in a few cases, targeted therapy and radiation may be used.
We secured defense verdicts in two cases, where plaintiffs claimed that they suffered brain damage due to exposure to solvents over their 23-year career on the railroad. The defense provided expert testimony on medical causation and industrial hygiene and the jury concluded that the workplace of the railroad was reasonably safe.
Creosote Exposure
Coal creosote tar is a mix of hundreds of chemicals used to preserve wood, like railroad ties. It contains a number of carcinogens known to exist, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs in creosote may be absorbed through the surface of the skin or inhaled by drinking water that is affected by this chemical. PAHs can also be absorbed into the lung where they can cause lung cancer.
Creosote exposure through inhalation can cause a variety of symptoms, including irritation to the respiratory tract, eye problems, and nausea and vomiting. It can also cause skin burns of the third and second degrees. The coal tar creosote compound is composed of PAH compounds that include naphthalene, naphthalene, and other carcinogenic substances like acenaphthene.
Creosote exposure could affect the health of employees and their families. Some workers have developed papular basis cell carcinomas (common occupational skin cancers) which can spread to different parts of the body. Others have been affected by chronic lung disease and liver fibrosis, esophageal and esophageal and chronic bronchitis.
The railroad industry doesn't always effectively inform its employees about the dangers associated with exposure to long-term toxic substances. For instance, it is not uncommon for railroad workers to abandon diesel-powered locomotives, forklifts, and cranes running during their work. They produce large quantities of exhaust from diesel engines, which is ingested and breathed in through the lungs. They also soak rags in benzene-based solvents to clean machinery and tools.
Workers' Compensation
Railroad workers who contract cancer or other chronic diseases because of exposure to toxic chemicals such as benzene or Creosote could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses and other expenses. union pacific railroad lawsuit could assist those seeking claims for damages in the form of money under the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA.
Many health issues resulting from exposure to carcinogenic substances such as diesel fumes, asbestos and silica, do not appear until a person is older. Therefore the statute of limitations generally only lasts for three years from the point an individual is first diagnosed with the disease. This is the reason it is crucial that any potential victims contact an experienced attorney for railroad accidents within the first few days after they are diagnosed.
In a recent lawsuit Napoli Shkolnik PLLC was able to successfully defend a lawsuit filed against our client by an ex-railway employee who had been diagnosed with leukemia as a result of years of exposure to toxic chemicals. The plaintiff claimed that the company was in violation of FELA for not providing their employees with the required safety equipment and education.
The jury gave the plaintiff $7.5 million in damages, after determining that his cancer was linked to his work at the Chicago & North Western Railroad. The man was exposed toxic chemicals, including benzene creosote and degreasing solvents while working for the company.
FELA
Former railroad workers who are diagnosed with cancer as a result of exposure to toxic substances at work might be eligible to claim compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). In contrast to workers' comp laws that offer victims medical expenses and some loss of wages, FELA is a fault-based law that requires evidence that the railroad company did not adequately protect its employees from the dangers of chemical exposures.
Railroad companies frequently 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 official tests showing the presence or carcinogens or toxins in equipment or parts employed by the railway.
A successful FELA claim is awarded compensation for past and future physical pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment life, psychological distress, and other related damages. If the victim dies as a result of their injuries and/or injuries, a wrongful demise claim could be filed to recover compensation for the deceased's family members.
We partner with FELA attorneys to help railroad employees injured receive the financial aid they require. Contact us for a free consultation. We represent railroad workers throughout the country, including in New York City, Boston, Hartford, St. Louis, Denver, and other cities.