Railroad Lawsuit Kidney Cancer
Railroad workers are often exposed to dangerous carcinogens. Exposure to diesel fuel, creosote, benzene, and other toxic substances has contributed to cancer as well as other chronic diseases such as lung cancer, leukemia, mesothelioma bladder cancer and kidney cancer.
Call a railroad cancer lawyer today for a free initial consultation If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with an illness that is related to your work on a railway.
Exposure to Carcinogens
Every day railroad workers are exposed to carcinogens. These include diesel exhaust, asbestos and benzene. Railroad cancer lawsuits against a variety of railroad companies have been filed in huge numbers. These lawsuits were filed under the Federal Employers Liability Act, established in 1908.
Patients who contract cancer because of exposure to toxins could be qualified for compensation. A lawyer from the railroad industry will evaluate a claim by a victim and determine if an FELA lawsuit can be filed against the company responsible for their illness.
A railroad worker may be entitled to compensation to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages resulting from their illness. A lawyer can help the client in filing a lawsuit within the three-year statute set forth by FELA.
James Brown, the plaintiff claims Leukemia was contracted by him after years exposed to chemicals without protection such as creosote and degreasing solvents. He worked on brake shoes tank cars, cabooses and brake shoes. He claims that he worked on railroad ties, which smelled like creosote and also observed placards on train cars with skulls and crossbones indicating the contents contained toxic substances. He also claims he was exposed to diesel fumes working on engines of locomotives and when he stopped in tunnels. The toxins caused him headaches and made breathing difficult.
Inability to provide an Occupational Safety Environment
Despite the fact that work on railroads has always posed a high risk, modern studies have proven that many of the hazards common to work in railways are directly related to cancer and other serious illnesses. Federal law requires railroad employers to provide their workers with adequate direction and protection in order to ensure their safety. If they do not they could be held responsible for serious injuries that could result in death and financial ruin.
If you are a railroad worker or have a family member who worked for a railroad and you are interested in seeking legal advice from a knowledgeable attorney. An attorney can assist you to determine whether you have a legal claim that is due to your exposure to dangerous carcinogens. A three-year statute of limitation is in place, so you must contact an attorney as soon as possible.
In addition to asbestos railroad workers also have to deal with toxic chemicals like creosote, diesel fumes and exhaust. Often, these toxic fumes can trigger cancer of various types, including mesothelioma and various lung diseases. It is imperative to seek out a railroad injury lawyer immediately if you've developed one of these illnesses.
The plaintiff was employed by the ICRC as a carman/mechanic between September 1975 until December 2015. He claims that his time in the ICRC caused him to develop renal (and later adrenal) cancer. He alleges that he was exposed to the dangerous chemical carbon tetrachloride. It is employed by railroads to clean their tracks and braking systems.
Negligence
A lawsuit involving railroads can be filed under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) which allows railroad employees to directly file complaints against their employers. To be able to claim damages, they must establish that negligence by the railroad company played a role in causing their illness or injury.
Plaintiff Greger was exposed, while working on the railroad, to various toxic chemicals and environmental conditions. Carbon tetrachloride, a chemical, was used to clean brake and rail systems. He claims that his company failed to warn him about the risks of the chemical that has been linked to cancer.
He also claims to have walked upon rail ties that were coated in creosote. The substance was regarded as harmful. He also breathed diesel fumes in the cabs of locomotives and reported headaches and breathing difficulties. He also breathed in diesel exhaust when he stopped in tunnels for locomotives running and claims that it caused him to feel sick.
He claims that when he inquired of doctors about the connection between his work on the railroad, kidney cancer and his doctors, they refused to provide any information. He asserts that this was negligence and that the defendant railway should have known about the link between these exposures to kidney cancer. He is seeking compensation for medical expenses along with pain and suffering as well as the loss of earnings.
Damages
The damages in a kidney cancer lawsuit filed by a railroad are a result of medical bills as well as lost wages and other expenses. The amount of damages can vary widely depending on the specific case. A skilled lawyer will work to ensure that you are fully compensated for the losses you suffered.
In one instance one case, a man aged 51 was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 2008. He worked as an employee of maintenance of way for Chicago & North Western Railway and its successor Union Pacific Railroad from 1976 until 2008 as a machinist. He was exposed to chemicals containing creosote as well as benzene and degreasing agents.
Railroad companies have a legal responsibility to adhere to government safety standards for their workplaces, which includes protecting workers from exposure to known carcinogens. If a railroad company fails in its duty the consequences for the those affected and their families can be devastating.
Hughes Law Offices has represented thousands injured individuals as well as railroad workers exposed to toxic fumes. Call wasatch railroad contractors lawsuit for a free consultation with an experienced railroad injury attorney. The founder Andrew Hughes actually defended railroads in FELA cases for most of his legal career, therefore He is knowledgeable about the laws surrounding these claims and the conditions that can result from on-the-job exposure.