Railroad Cancer Lawyer: How to File a FELA Railroad Lawsuit
Railroad workers who are exposed toxic chemicals have a right to submit claims under the Federal Employees Liability Act (FELA). A knowledgeable railroad cancer lawyer could evaluate your case and help you seek compensation.
Benzene is linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in several studies. Other carcinogens found in trains include diesel exhaust and creosote.
Benzene
In many industries, it is used to make plastic, dyes and adhesives. It is also present in cigarette smoke and gasoline, and it has been linked to a number of health problems, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CL) and myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. People who work in the oil refining, shoe manufacturing and chemical industries are at a greater risk of benzene exposure over other workers.
Railroad workers are usually exposed to a range of carcinogens in the course of their job, including diesel fumes, welding fumes, and silica. Rail workers who suffer from a chronic illness or illness as a result of exposure to the workplace may be able file 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 they received while working. The plaintiffs, one male and the female counterpart, allege various long-term health issues, such as lung cancer, leukemia, kidney cancer and bladder cancer.
The lawsuits against BNSF assert the Railroad was negligent for not taking steps to safeguard workers from exposure to carcinogens like benzene. Additionally, the lawsuits claim that the railroad violated Federal law known as the Federal Employers Liability Act. The law was enacted by Congress in 1908 to give railroad workers the right to sue employers for work-related illnesses and injuries.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate can be described as an herbicide or chemical used to protect plants, that is applied to many crops. It is also an ingredient in Roundup, a popular herbicide utilized by many commercial and residential gardeners and farmers. However, some studies have connected its use to specific kinds of cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said that glyphosate "is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans." The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer however, on the contrary on the other hand, has been more critical of this chemical and said it "probably carcinogenic."
A meta-analysis of four studies [17,26,32discovered 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-andfill analysis failed to detect bias in the publication. The meta-RR for the meta-RR was 1.4 (CI = 1.0 to 1.9).
In the European Union, where glyphosate is classified as an active substance, EFSA has conducted an assessment of the dangers posed by this substance to the health of humans. In parallel, ECHA has carried out a hazard assessment of the substance. Both EU regulators have coordinated their work plans to ensure that both assessments are taken into consideration when a decision on renewal of the approval for glyphosate is taken.
The EPA requires herbicide manufacturers to conduct numerous studies that focus on the toxicological properties of the herbicide as well as its environmental fate, and potential non-target effects. These studies are also used to conduct formal risk assessments by the EPA. These evaluations quantify the likelihood of harm to humans by evaluating human biomonitoring and food residues monitoring data, and using models of human exposure.
Creosote
Creosote consists of chemicals that are used to treat and prolong the life of railroad ties. It was used up to 1984 in a railyard located in Houston's Fifth Ward. A plume of contamination has spread to the predominantly black and low-income community nearby. Creosote has been identified as to be a possible cancer-causing chemical, and residents have been fighting to clean up the site for a long time.
In a recent railroad cancer verdict, a former railroad worker sued his employer, alleging that exposure to creosote, solvents used to degrease and other dangerous materials caused him to develop cancer. He claims he contracted myelodysplastic disorder, which later led to acute myeloidleukemia. The plaintiff claims he was responsible for picking up and dropping railroad ties and then putting them up "soaking wet." He says that the chemicals soaked into his clothes and skin when he worked in the field, and that he had not had the proper safety equipment.
The lawsuit claims that he suffered from burns on his feet, hands and head, bad eyesight and weight gain from the medications he takes for his condition, impotence, and memory loss. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with leukemia An attorney can assist you in determining whether toxic chemicals in your workplace might have contributed to the condition.
Asbestos
While it is no longer a problem in the United States, asbestos once played a crucial role in railroad operations. Railroad workers who handled or were exposed to the harmful substance were at risk of developing cancers such as mesothelioma, among other lung diseases. Asbestos fibers are so brittle that they can travel through the body before settling in the lungs. This can result in scarring of the lungs, a condition known as mesothelioma and asbestosis, an illness that kills the lining of the lungs.
Railroad workers were frequently exposed to dangerous chemicals, like benzene as well as creosote. Despite class action lawsuit against union pacific railroad , certain railroad companies have shrugged off and debunked asbestos risks for decades. This could have been due to the fact that asbestos was profitable and they believed that employees were unable to prove their employers were negligent.
Anyone who has developed a disease or illness as the result of exposure to railroad materials should think about making the FELA claim. Compensation may help injured workers and their families pay medical expenses as well as other financial losses.
A FELA lawyer can review your case to determine the full amount of compensation that you may be entitled to. Contact a knowledgeable railroad injury lawyer today to schedule an initial consultation for free.