Railroad Cancer Lawyer: How to File a FELA Railroad Lawsuit
Railroad workers who are exposed toxic chemicals have a right to make claims under the Federal Employees Liability Act (FELA). A lawyer who specializes in railroad cancer will assess your claim and assist you in seeking compensation.
Benzene has been linked to non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in a number of studies. Other carcinogens that are found in trains include creosote and diesel exhaust.
Benzene
In many industries, it is used to create plastic, dyes and adhesives. It is also found in gasoline and cigarette smoke and has been linked with a variety of health issues such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as well as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CL) as well as multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. People who work in the shoe manufacturing, oil refining and chemical industries are at a greater risk of benzene exposure than others.
In the course of their jobs railway workers are exposed to a variety of carcinogens like diesel fumes, welding fumes and crystalline silica. Railroad workers who develop a long-term illness or disease as a result of exposure to the workplace may be able make a claim.
Napoli Shkolnik partner Patrick Haines has filed two cases in Fort Worth, Texas, against BNSF Railway, claiming injuries railroad workers suffered due to exposure to toxic substances while working. The plaintiffs both male and other female, claim several long-term health issues, including leukemia, lung cancer bladder cancer and kidney cancer.
The lawsuits filed against BNSF assert that the Railroad was negligent in not taking the necessary steps to shield workers from exposure to carcinogens such as benzene. Additionally, the lawsuits claim an infraction of Federal law, referred to as the Federal Employers Liability Act. This law was enacted in 1908 to ensure that railroad employees have the right to sue their employers for workplace injuries and illnesses, regardless of whether these ailments develop decades or years after the last railroad employee's job.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate is an herbicide, or chemical used to protect plants, that is applied to many crops. It is also a component in Roundup which is a well-known weed killer used by many commercial and home gardeners as well as farmers. However certain studies have been linked to its use in the treatment of certain kinds of cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stated that glyphosate is "not likely to be cancerous to humans." However, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has been more critical and called this product "probably carcinogenic."
A meta-analysis of 4 studies [17,26,32found a correlation between exposure to glyphosate and the risk of hairy cell leukemia (HCL). However the I 2 and P values were not high and heterogeneity wasn't statistically significant. Bladder cancer lawsuit -and-fill analysis could not detect publication bias. The meta-RR was 1.4 (95% CCI = 1.0-1.9).
EFSA carried out an assessment of the potential risks posed by glyphosate to human health in the European Union where it is registered as a substance active. ECHA also performed a hazard assessment of the substance. The two EU regulators have synchronised their work plans so that the results of both assessments will be taken into account when a decision is made on the renewal of glyphosate's authorization.
The EPA requires herbicide producers to conduct numerous studies that focus on the chemical properties of the herbicide as well as its environmental fate and potential unwanted effects. The EPA also conducts formal risk assessments based on these data. These assessments assess the probability of harm to humans through analyzing human biomonitoring as well as food residues monitoring data, and applying models of human exposure.
Creosote
Creosote consists of chemicals that are used to treat and extend the life of railroad ties. It was used until 1984 in a railway yard in Houston's Fifth Ward. A plume of contaminant has spread to a predominantly black, low-income neighborhood close to. Leukemia lawsuit is considered a probable carcinogen. Residents of the neighborhood have been fighting for years to clean the site up.
In a recent rail verdict, an ex-railroad worker filed an action against his employer. He claimed that exposure to creosote as well as degreasing agents, as well as other hazardous materials led to his development of the cancer. He claims he contracted myelodysplastic syndrome, which eventually progressed into acute myeloid leukemia. The plaintiff claims that he was responsible for picking up and dropping railroad ties off, then installing them "soaking wet." He claims the chemicals got soaked into his clothes and skin when he worked, and that he never was wearing the appropriate protective equipment.
The lawsuit also claims that he was burned to his hands, feet, and head, and from bad eyesight and weight gain as a result of the medications he is taking to treat his disease. He also was suffering from impotence and memory problems. If cancer lawsuits or someone you love has been diagnosed with leukemia, an attorney can assist you in determining if the harmful chemicals in your workplace may be the cause of your illness.
Asbestos
Although it is now prohibited in the United States, asbestos once played a significant role in railroad operations. Railroad workers who handled or were exposed to the toxic material had a higher chance of developing cancers such as mesothelioma and various other lung diseases. Asbestos is broken down into microscopically thin fibers which can travel throughout the body and settle in the lungs. This can cause scarring of the lungs called mesothelioma and asbestosis. It is a lethal lung cancer that affects the lining of your lungs.
Railroad workers were often exposed to hazardous chemicals, including benzene and creosote. Despite the dangers, some railroad companies have ignored and dismissed asbestos hazards for a long time. This could have been due to the fact that asbestos was profitable and they believed that employees would not be able prove that their employers were negligent.
If you have suffered from a disease or illnesses as a result of exposure to railroad-related materials should consider filing the FELA claim. Compensation is a way to help injured workers as well as their families and employers cover medical costs and other financial loss.
A FELA lawyer will evaluate your case to determine the full amount of compensation you could be entitled to receive. For a free consultation, contact a skilled railroad injury attorney today.