A Railroad Lawsuit For Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Rail workers are frequently exposed to substances and chemicals that can cause cancer, such as asbestos and benzene. If you believe that exposure to these chemicals while working has caused cancer, you could be entitled to compensation.

The FELA law allows railroad employees to sue their employers for negligence. Contact an experienced railroad class action lawsuit against union pacific railroad acute myeloidleukemia lawyer for more details.

Benzene Exposure

Benzene, a colorless toxic gas, can cause cancer when exposed to it for a long period of time. It is naturally produced in the environment, and also by gas emissions and tobacco smoke. The skin is also able to absorb the benzene. union pacific railroad lawsuit workers who have been diagnosed with cancer as a result of exposure to benzene may be eligible to file a claim against their employer for monetary compensation.

In one case the widow of a railroad employee who died was awarded $1,000,000 by the company which employed her husband. Her late husband worked as a pump man on various tankers in the 1970s and 80s, and was exposed to benzene. His wife filed a claim for wrongful death against the vessel owner after he passed away in 1995 from acute myeloid lymphoma.

Acute myeloid cancer is a form of cancer that is rapidly spreading and can be fatal within several months after diagnosis if it isn't treated. It is most commonly treated with chemotherapy, but in some instances radiation and targeted therapy are also possible.

We secured defense verdicts in two cases, in which plaintiffs claimed brain injury from exposure to solvents during their 23-year career on the railroad. The defense offered expert testimony from a medical expert on causality, industrial hygiene and the jury found that the railroad workplace was fairly safe.

Creosote Exposure

Coal creosote or tar is a mixture of hundreds of chemicals that are used to protect wood, including railroad ties. It is made up of a variety of carcinogens that are known that include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs in creosote are absorption through the surface of the skin or inhaled by drinking water that has been affected by this chemical. PAHs can be absorbed into lung where they can cause lung cancer.

Creosote exposure through inhalation can cause a variety of symptoms, including respiratory irritation, eye problems and nausea and vomiting. It can cause skin burns of the third and second degrees. The coal tar creosote chemical is made up of PAH compounds, including naphthalene as well as other carcinogenic substances like Acenaphthene.

Creosote exposure can affect the health of workers as well as their families. Certain workers have developed papular base carcinomas (common occupational skin cancers) which may develop to different parts of the body. Others have been affected by chronic asthma, esophageal esophagus ulcers, and fibrosis of the liver and lungs.

The railroad industry does not often communicate effectively with its employees about the dangers associated with exposure to long-term toxic substances. For instance, it's not uncommon for railroad workers to leave diesel-powered locomotives, forklifts, and cranes running during their work. Diesel exhaust from these engines can be inhaled and ingested. They also dip rags into solvents containing benzene to clean equipment and tools.

Worker's Compensation

Railroad workers who have been diagnosed with cancer or another chronic illness because of exposure to toxic chemicals such as creosote or benzene may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses and other damages. A New York union pacific railroad lawsuits cancer attorney can assist workers in pursuing claims for damages monetary under the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA.

Many of the ailments that result from occupational exposure to carcinogenic chemicals like diesel fumes, asbestos and silica, do not develop until a worker is older. Therefore the statute of limitation generally only lasts for three years from the point a person is first diagnosed with the disease. This is why it is essential that potential victims get in touch with an experienced railroad cancer lawsuit injury lawyer within the first few days after they are diagnosed.

In a recent case, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC successfully defended the case brought against our client by a former railway employee who was diagnosed with leukemia after years of exposure to toxic chemicals. The plaintiff claimed that the firm was in violation of FELA by not providing their employees with the required safety equipment and education.

The jury awarded the plaintiff damages of $7.5 million after concluding that the cancer was directly linked to his work at the Chicago & North Western Railroad. The man was exposed to benzene by the company and other toxic chemicals, including creosote and benzene as well as degreasing agents.

FELA

If a former railroad employee is diagnosed with cancer caused by exposure to toxic substances at work or at work, they can make a claim under the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA. In contrast to workers' compensation statutes that provide medical expenses and lost wages to those suffering, FELA is a statute founded on fault that requires proof of the railroad employer not protecting their employees from the dangers posed by chemical exposures.

Railroad companies frequently fight FELA claims involving occupational illnesses. Their defense attorneys commonly argue that the ill former employee isn't able to identify specific instances of exposure to hazardous substances. They also point out the lack of official test results indicating the presence of toxic substances or carcinogens in the equipment or parts used by the railway company.

In the event of a successful FELA claim and a successful FELA claim, the family members of the victim can be compensated for past and future suffering and pain as well as the loss of enjoyment from life, mental distress, and union Pacific railroad lawsuits other damages. If the victim dies due to their injuries the wrongful death claim could be filed to seek the compensation of the deceased's family members.

At Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, we work with experienced FELA lawyers to help injured railroad workers receive the financial assistance they require. Contact us for an evaluation of your case for free. We represent railroad workers across the country including New York City, Boston and Hartford, St. Louis and Denver, among other cities.