A Railroad Lawsuit For Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Railroad workers frequently have prolonged exposure to carcinogenic chemicals and substances such as creosote or benzene as well as asbestos. If you have been diagnosed with cancer and believe your exposure to these chemicals while working caused it, you could be entitled to compensation.
The FELA allows railroad workers to sue for negligence. Contact an experienced railroad lawsuit acute myeloid leukemia lawyer for more information.
Benzene Exposure
It is a colorless, toxic gas that can cause cancer to people who are exposed to it for prolonged durations. It is produced in the environment and also through the release of gas and tobacco smoke. The skin also absorbs benzene. Railroad workers who have been diagnosed with cancer as a result of exposure to benzene may be able to sue their employer for monetary compensation.
In one case the widow of a railroad employee who died was awarded $1,000,000 by the company that employed her husband. Her late husband was a pumpman for various tankers during the 1970s and 1980s. He was frequently exposed to toxic benzene. His wife filed a claim for wrongful death against the vessel's owner following his died in 1995 of acute myeloid lymphoma.
Acute myeloid cancer is a form of cancer which spreads rapidly and can be fatal within the first few months after diagnosis if not treated. The majority of the time, it is treated with chemotherapy. However, in railroad class action lawsuit , targeted therapy or radiation can be utilized.
We have obtained defense verdicts in two cases, where plaintiffs claimed brain injury from exposure to solvents throughout their 23-year railroad career. The defense provided expert testimony on medical causation and industrial hygiene, and the jury found that the workplace of the railroad was reasonably safe.
Creosote Exposure
It is a mixture composed of hundreds of chemicals used to preserve wood, such as railroad ties. It contains a variety of carcinogens including polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs in creosote can be absorption through the skin and are ingested through drinking water that is contaminated with the chemical. PAHs can also be absorbed into the lungs, where they could cause lung cancer.
Creosote exposure through inhalation can cause a range of symptoms that include respiratory irritation, eye problems, and nausea and vomiting. It can also cause skin burns of the second and third degree. The coal tar creosote compound is an amalgamation of PAH compounds like naphthalene and other carcinogenic compounds like Acenaphthene.
Creosote exposure can cause negative effects on the health of workers as well as their families. Certain workers have developed papular basal cell carcinomas (common occupational skin cancers) that may develop to different parts of the body. Others have suffered from chronic lung disease and liver fibrosis, esophageal and esophageal, and chronic bronchitis.
The railroad industry does not always effectively inform its employees about the dangers associated with long-term exposure to toxic substances. For instance, it is common for railroad workers to abandon diesel-powered locomotives, forklifts, and cranes running while they work. The engines generate a lot of exhaust from diesel engines, which is ingested and breathed in through the lungs. They also immerse rags in solvents that contain benzene for cleaning equipment and tools.
Workers' Compensation
Railroad workers who have been diagnosed with cancer or another chronic illness due to exposure to toxic chemicals like creosote and benzene could be entitled to compensation for their medical expenses and other damages. A New York railroad cancer lawyer can assist workers in pursuing claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) for financial damages.
Many illnesses related to occupational exposures to carcinogenic substances, such as diesel fumes and asbestos, do not manifest until a person is older. In the majority of cases, statute of limitations lasts only three years after the first diagnosis. Therefore, it is essential that victims get in touch with a railroad injury lawyer as soon as they can after being diagnosed.
In a case that was recently heard, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC successfully defended a lawsuit filed against our client by a former railway employee who was diagnosed with leukemia after decades of exposure to toxic chemicals. The plaintiff claimed that the company was in violation of FELA for not providing employees with the appropriate safety equipment and education.
The jury awarded the plaintiff damages of $7.5 million after concluding that the cancer was linked to his work at the Chicago & North Western Railroad. The man was exposed to various toxic chemicals, including benzene creosote, as well as degreasing solvents while working for the company.
FELA
Former railroad employees who are diagnosed with cancer due to exposure to toxic substances at work could be qualified to file a claim for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). In contrast to the workers' compensation laws which cover medical expenses as well as lost wages to victims, FELA is a statute founded on fault that requires evidence of the railroad company not protecting their employees from the dangers posed by chemical exposures.
Railroad companies often fight FELA claims involving occupational illnesses. Defense attorneys typically argue that the former employee is unable to identify particular instances of ailment. They also point out the absence of official test results indicating the presence of toxins or carcinogens in the equipment or components manufactured and used by the railway company.
In a successful FELA claim, the victim's family members can be compensated for past and future suffering as well as loss of enjoyment of life, mental stress, and other damages. If the victim dies in the process of the incident, the family may make a claim for wrongful death to receive compensation.
We collaborate with FELA attorneys to help railroad employees injured get the financial help they require. Contact us for an evaluation of your case for free. We represent railroad workers across the country, including in New York City, Boston, Hartford, St. Louis, Denver, and other cities.