FELA and Railroad Lawsuits
People exposed to harmful chemicals like diesel exhaust, coal fumes or asbestos can suffer from serious illnesses such as cancer. A successful FELA claim can provide compensation for medical expenses loss of income pain suffering and more.
A railroad worker who was diagnosed with leukemia has been awarded $7.5 million from Union Pacific. This is only one instance of how the justice system defends for victims.
Benzene
Railroad workers are often exposed to hazardous substances and chemical solvents like benzene. It is a highly evaporative liquid is absorbed by the skin or inhaled. It has been linked with various medical conditions, including cancer blood-related cancers like Lymphoma and Leukemia, and bone-marrow diseases. It is also a substance that causes cancer and a component of coal tar creosote. It is used to protect railroad ties from sunlight, heat and rain.
A former railroad worker claimed that his exposure to benzene working with coal-tar creosote in order to create railroad ties, contributed to Myelodysplastic Syndrome. This progressed to Acute Myeloid leukemia. A jury gave the man $7.5 million in September of the year before.
People who have been diagnosed as having cancer or other chronic diseases because of exposure to radioactive substances benzene asbestos, and other hazardous chemicals, have the right to claim compensation under FELA. The statute of limitations can vary based on the type and degree of cancer or illness. It is essential to consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
Shaw Cowart's railroad lawyers can help you determine if your case is eligible to be a FELA lawsuit. We offer free consultations and we are familiar with FELA and railroad workplaces.
Asbestos
Our lawyers have represented railroad workers who contracted lung cancer and other health issues due to asbestos exposure. They frequently worked in areas like repair shops, engine rooms, and yards as well as on rail cars that were damaged or on track equipment that contained asbestos insulation that was degrading. This kind of asbestos is especially dangerous because, when it deteriorates, tiny fibers are released into air. The fibers are breathed in by railroad workers and could cause mesothelioma, lung cancer asbestosis and the pleural plaque.
Railroad workers are at risk of developing lung disease from diesel exhaust, silicasand, and welding fumes. These fumes can cause harm to the kidneys, lungs and the gastrointestinal tract. These injuries are often diagnosed years after the first exposure and can result in various serious and debilitating diseases.
A recent case involving Conrail exposes the dangers of this kind of work. The Appeals Court has upheld a jury verdict of $2.3million against Conrail, the railroad company, in respect of a former railway worker who died of mesothelioma. A jury awarded damages to compensate for suffering and suffering and companionship loss, as well as future medical expenses, and other losses. The case underscores the importance of working with an experienced attorney who can quickly evaluate whether an FELA claim is justified.
Radioactive Substances
Railroad workers exposed to radioactive substances are at risk of developing certain types of cancers as well as other serious diseases. The substances are usually hidden in the materials railroads employ to clean track and other rail yards. It can be difficult to detect them unless the railroad company actively tests for Gamma and Alpha radiation. If a railroad employee develops cancer or another illness caused through exposure to carcinogenic substances at work, he may file a FELA and receive compensation from the company he worked for previously.
Research has revealed that railroad workers are much more likely to develop different types of cancers than other people. This is because they are constantly exposed to chemicals that can lead to lung cancer, such as asbestos, the sand dust (silica) and welding fumes, diesel fumes, and creosote.
A lawyer for railroads should be consulted as quickly as is possible by railroad employees who are diagnosed with cancer as a result of exposure to radiation during their work. They can assist them in determining whether they have a case against the former employer and pursue the appropriate lawsuits, that are based on FELA. These lawsuits could result in the payment of medical expenses, loss of income, as well as pain and discomfort. They may also seek compensation for the death of a loved in an wrongful-death case. A railroad lawyer with experience can help victims get the full amount of damages that they are entitled to under FELA.
FELA
Railroad workers such as engineers, conductors, and members of train crews frequently work in dangerous environments that can damage lungs without even realizing it. If railroad lawsuit has been diagnosed with an illness such as lung cancer or another illness that could have been related to their job it is possible to seek compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
Unlike workers' compensation claims, FELA allows injured railroad employees as well as the families of deceased employees to seek damages for future and past medical expenses and emotional suffering. A lawyer familiar with rules of FELA will be able to explain your options for filing.
In order to win a FELA lawsuit, you will have to prove that your employer acted negligently in a manner. Negligence could mean breaking a law or rule or failing to adhere to an acceptable standard of care and more. A skilled FELA lawyer could review your case to determine if the railroad's negligence played a role in causing your condition.
Several different types of lung diseases and illnesses could be attributed to exposures from railroads. If you were exposed in your railroad career to diesel exhaust or other toxins such as creosote, asbestos, or creosote mesothelioma lawyers can assist you in filing claims for compensation under the FELA. The FELA cases handled by Hughes Law Offices have resulted in a variety of settlements and verdicts.