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've been diagnosed with cancer and believe that your exposure to these chemicals at work contributed to it, you may be entitled to compensation.
The FELA allows railroad workers to sue for negligence. Contact Leukemia lawsuit for more information.
Benzene Exposure
Benzene is a colorless and poisonous gas that can cause cancer in people who are exposed for long durations. It is naturally produced in the environment, and also through the combustion of gas and tobacco smoke. The skin also absorbs the benzene. A railroad worker who developed cancer due to exposure to benzene could be eligible for compensation in the form of monetary payments from their employer.
In one instance, the widow of a railroad worker who passed away was awarded $1,500,000 by the company which employed her husband. Leukemia lawsuit was a pumpman on several tankers in the 1970s as well as the 1980s. He was frequently exposed to toxic benzene. After his death from acute myeloid leukemia in the year 1995 his wife filed a wrongful death claim against the vessel's owner.
Acute myeloid cancer is a type of cancer that can spread quickly and could be fatal within a few months of diagnosis if it is not treated. cancer lawsuits of cases, it is treated with chemotherapy. However, in some instances, targeted therapy and radiation might be employed.
We obtained defense verdicts in 2 cases, where plaintiffs claimed brain injury from solvent-induced exposure over their 23-year rail career. 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 tar creosote is a mixture of hundreds of chemicals that are used to protect wood, like railroad ties. It is a mixture of carcinogens that are known such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs in creosote can be absorbent through the surface the skin or ingested by drinking water that is contaminated with this chemical. PAHs are also absorbed through the lungs, where they can cause lung cancer.
Creosote exposure through inhalation can cause a variety of symptoms such as respiratory irritation, eye problems and nausea and vomiting. It can cause skin burns of the third and second degrees. The coal tar creosote is a mixture of PAH compounds like naphthalene and other carcinogenic compounds such as acenaphthene.
Creosote exposure could affect the health of employees and their families, as well. For example, some workers have developed basal cell tumors papular which are typical occupational skin cancers that can spread to other areas of the body. Others have been affected by chronic asthma, esophageal ulcers and fibrosis of the liver and lungs.
In many cases, the railroad industry isn't able to adequately inform employees on the dangers of long term exposure to toxic substances. It is not unusual for railroad workers to leave diesel locomotives, cranes, or forklifts running while working. The engines generate a lot of diesel exhaust, which can be ingested and inhaled through the lungs. They also dip rags into benzene-containing solvents to clean equipment and tools.
Workers' Compensation
Railroad workers who develop cancer or another chronic disease due to exposure harmful chemicals like benzene and Creosote, may be entitled reimbursement for medical expenses and other losses. A New York railroad cancer lawyer can assist workers in pursuing claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) for damages in the form of money.
Many illnesses related to exposure to carcinogenic substances at work, such as asbestos and diesel fumes are not evident until a person is older. In most cases, the time limit for a statute of limitations is three years following the first diagnosis. This is the reason it is crucial to contact an experienced attorney for railroad accidents as soon as possible after being diagnosed.
In a recent instance, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC successfully defended the suit brought against our client by a former railway employee who was diagnosed with leukemia following years of exposure to toxic chemicals. The plaintiff claimed the company was in violation of FELA by not providing employees with the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jury awarded the plaintiff $7.5 million in damages after finding that his cancer was directly linked to his work on the Chicago & North Western Railroad. The man was exposed by the company to benzene and other toxic chemicals such as creosote, benzene and degreasing agents.
FELA
Former railroad employees who are diagnosed with cancer as a result of exposure to toxic substances at work might be qualified to file a claim for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). Unlike workers' compensation statutes that provide victims with medical expenses and some lost wages, FELA is a fault-based law that requires proof that the railroad's employer failed to protect its workers from the dangers of chemical exposures.
Railroad companies typically fight FELA lawsuits that concern occupational diseases. Their defense lawyers often argue that the sick former employee cannot identify specific instances of unhealthy exposures. They are also critical of official tests that show the presence of carcinogens, or contaminants in parts or equipment employed by the railway.
If you win a FELA claim family members of the victim may be compensated for past and future suffering and pain, loss in enjoyment of life, mental distress, and other damages. If Bladder cancer lawsuit dies as a result or a result of the accident, the family is able to pursue wrongful-death claims to seek the compensation.
We collaborate with FELA attorneys to assist injured railroad employees receive the financial assistance they need. Contact us for a free consultation. We represent railroad workers across the country, including in New York City, Boston, Hartford, St. Louis, Denver, and other cities.