What Are The Biggest "Myths" About Railroad Lawsuit Laryngeal Cancer Could Actually Be True

FELA Lawsuits - Why You Should File a Railroad Lawsuit

The Federal Employer's Liability Act gives railroad workers, both old and new and former employees the right to sue their employer if they suffer from cancer or another chronic illness because of exposure to benzene fumes diesel fumes and other carcinogens. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation with a knowledgeable railroad lawyer.

FELA Lawsuits

Railroads transport goods, services, and even people across the nation every day. These huge systems require an enormous number of railroad employees to manage and operate. Despite advancements in technology, the work of a railway worker is extremely dangerous. As such, the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) was enacted to protect railroad workers who are injured.

Contrary to workers' compensation which is a no-fault insurance system, claimants must prove that their railroad employer was negligent in order to receive compensation under FELA. Usually, this is accomplished by proving that the railroad violated some federal standard, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, Boiler Inspection Act, or Safety Appliance Act.

In FELA cases it is more straightforward to prove negligence than in other personal injury cases. This is because of the standard of comparative negligence, which allows plaintiffs to seek damages even if their own actions caused their injuries.

Shaw Cowart's attorneys have extensive experience with FELA claims and are able to look into the evidence in these cases. Because the timeframe for filing an FELA claim is very limited so it is crucial to hire an attorney immediately following your injury. This allows us to collect documents, statements, and other evidence. Contact us today to arrange a consultation with a railroad litigation attorney.

Exposure to Carcinogens

Railroad workers are at risk of contracting various diseases as a result of exposure toxic chemicals. Railroad workers are exposed for a long time to welding fumes and diesel fumes. They also are exposed to lead, asbestos silica, creosote, and creosote. As a result, these chemicals can cause cancer as well as other illnesses in railroad workers. When a former or current railroad employee suffers from an illness that is directly attributed to the chemicals they were exposed to while working or at home, they could be eligible to file an FELA lawsuit.

Numerous studies have found railroad workers to be more susceptible to developing cancer than other occupations. Some of the most common types of cancers seen among railroad workers are throat, esophageal and lung cancers as well basal cell carcinomas that affect the neck and head.

One of the most commonly used carcinogens railway workers are exposed to is benzene. The smell of benzene is sweet and is an odorless and colorless gas. It was banned more than 20 years ago in the United States, but it can still be found in crude oil and diesel exhaust. It is also a component in some degreasers and solvents. Latonya Paige is suing BNSF, the City of Houston and Texas after her nephew died of leukemia. Her lawsuit claims the railroad and city contaminated the area with toxic chemicals that came from the rail yard of the railroad. Giles lived just several blocks from the creosote treatment site and the railyard.

Cancer Symptoms

Railroad transportation is vital to the American economy. Each year, America's railroads transport 30 million passengers and 1.6 billion tons of freight, including food and lumber crude oil, grain, vehicles chemicals, crushed stone and metal ore. Railroad workers are exposed to a broad variety of dangerous substances and suffer from diseases such as cancer as a result. A FELA injury lawyer could help you file a lawsuit against your employer.

For instance, a former Union Pacific worker claims that the company's negligence led him to develop basal cell carcinoma, which is a skin cancer. He claims that his exposure to sunlight and creosote infused railroad connections between 1968 and 2009 caused the condition. He also claims that he was not provided with the appropriate safety equipment to shield himself from the hazards of his job.

Another plaintiff, LaTonya Payne, says her breast cancer was a result of her work on an Union Pacific track yard. The Houston resident said she first noticed an area of breast cancer in 2016. The mass was found to be malignant after doctors removed it.  Kidney cancer lawsuit  has been spreading from her lymph nodes to her lungs, liver, and esophagus.

The Houston mayor has asked the Biden administration to seek fines and orders for cleanup of the Union Pacific site in his city. The site was used to store railroad tie made of wood treated with coal tar and other toxic chemical mixtures up to the 1980s. In a study released by Texas health officials in January, the region was linked to clusters of acute leukemia, lung cancer bladder cancer colon and rectal cancers and rheumatoid arthritis.

The signs of other Diseases

Railroad workers are at risk of developing serious health problems, especially if they are exposed to chemicals every day. The Federal Employers Liability Act allows railway employees to seek compensation when their employer breaks the law. Chaffin Luhana is committed to ensuring that victims receive full compensation they are due.

Studies have shown that people working in the railway industry are more likely to develop different forms of cancer.  bnsf lawsuit  are exposed to harmful chemicals, whether they work in locomotives or in yards. A study revealed that railroad workers exposed to diesel exhaust had a greater risk of developing lung cancer. Benzene is another chemical that has been linked to cancer among railroad workers. It is present in many degreasers, solvents and other products used in the railroad industry. It is also a component in diesel exhaust, and is believed to cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma among railroad workers.

In September the month of September, a jury awarded $7.5 million to an employee of a railroad who contracted leukemia. The plaintiff worked for Chicago and North Western Railroad and later Union Pacific Railroad Company for decades. He claimed he worked without protection equipment when he was installing railroad ties that were soaked in creosote. He also alleged that he was exposed degreasing solvents as well as lead.  bnsf lawsuit  was diagnosed with myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) which later became acute myeloid Leukemia.