Railroad Cancer Lawyer: How to File a FELA Railroad Lawsuit
Federal Employees' Liability Act (FELA) allows railroad workers who have been exposed to toxic chemicals to submit claims. A knowledgeable attorney for railroad cancer can review your case and help you obtain compensation.
Many studies have linked benzene to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Creosote, as well as diesel exhaust, are carcinogens which can be found in trains.
Benzene
In many industries, there is a need for benzene to create plastic, dyes and adhesives. It is also present in gasoline and cigarette smoke, and has been linked to various health issues like acute myeloid lymphoma (AML) and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CL) as well as Multiple Myeloma, and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. People who work in the shoe manufacturing, oil refining and chemical industries are at greater risk of benzene exposure than other people.
Railroad workers are often exposed to a range of carcinogens as a result of their work, such as diesel fumes, welding fumes, silica. If a railway worker develops an illness that is long-term or disease due to workplace exposure, they may be legally able to bring a lawsuit under Federal law.
Napoli Shkolnik partner Patrick Haines has filed two cases in Fort Worth, Texas, against BNSF Railway over injuries railroad workers suffered due to toxic exposures they received while working. The plaintiffs two men and the other female, are claiming numerous long-term health issues, including lung cancer, leukemia, kidney cancer and bladder cancer.
The lawsuits filed against BNSF assert that the Railroad was negligent in not taking measures to protect workers from exposure to carcinogens, like benzene. Moreover, the lawsuits assert an infraction of Federal law, which is known as the Federal Employers Liability Act. The law was enacted by Congress in 1908 to guarantee railroad workers the right to sue employers for work-related illness and injuries.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate can be described as an herbicide or chemical that protects plants, which is used on a variety of crops. It is also an ingredient in Roundup, a popular weed killer used by many commercial and home gardeners as well as farmers. However certain studies have been linked to its use in the treatment of certain types of cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said that glyphosate "is not likely to cause cancer in humans." The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer however, on the other hand, has been more critical of this chemical and said it "probably carcinogenic."
A meta-analysis of 4 studies [17,26,32identified a connection between glyphosate exposures and the risk of hairy cell leukemia (HCL). However, the I 2 and P values were low and heterogeneity was not statistically significant. A trim-andfill analysis failed to detect bias in the publication. The meta-RR for the meta-RR was 1.4 (CI = 1.0 to 1.9).
In the European Union, where glyphosate is declared to be an active chemical, EFSA has conducted an assessment of the risk posed by the substance to the health of humans. In parallel, ECHA has carried out an assessment of the hazard associated with the substance. The two EU regulators have coordinated their work plans so that the results of both assessments will be taken into account when making a decision regarding the renewal of glyphosate's approval.
The EPA requires herbicide producers to conduct numerous studies that focus on the herbicide's toxicological characteristics as well as its environmental fate and potential non-targeted effects. railroad lawsuits are also used to conduct formal risk assessments by the EPA. These assessments quantify the risk of causing harm to humans through analyzing the biomonitoring of humans monitoring food residues and utilizing exposure models.
Creosote
Creosote, a chemical mix which is used to lengthen the life span of railroad ties. It was employed in a rail yard in Houston's Fifth Ward until 1984, and a plume of contaminant from the site has blown into a poor, largely black community living near. Creosote is thought to be a probable carcinogen and residents of the neighborhood have been fighting for years to clean the area up.
In a recent cancer verdict, a former railroad employee filed suit against his employer, alleging that exposure to creosote, solvents for degreasing and other harmful substances caused him to develop cancer. He claims he developed myelodysplastic syndrome that eventually led to acute myeloidleukemia. The plaintiff claims that he was responsible for picking up and dropping railroad ties, then putting them in place "soaking wet." He claims that the chemicals got soaked into his clothes and skin as he worked, and that he never had the proper safety equipment.
The lawsuit claims he also suffered from burns to his hands, feet and head, as well as poor eyesight and weight gain due to the medications he takes for his condition, impotence, and memory loss. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with leukemia, an attorney can help you determine whether the toxic chemicals you use at your workplace may have contributed to the illness.
Asbestos
While it is no longer a problem in the United States, asbestos once played a crucial role in railroad operations. Railroad workers exposed to asbestos or dealt with asbestos were at a higher risk of developing cancers such as mesothelioma and other lung diseases. Asbestos fibers are so brittle that they can move through the body and eventually end up in the lung. This can lead to scarring of the lungs, known as mesothelioma and asbestosis. It is a threatening lung disease that affects the lining of the lungs.
Railroad workers were frequently exposed to hazardous chemicals, like benzene as well as creosote. Despite the danger, some railroad companies ignored and denied the risks of asbestos for decades. This could be because asbestos was profitable and they hoped that employees would not be able prove their employers were negligent.
Those who have developed illnesses or diseases as a result of exposure to railroad products on the job should think about making an FELA complaint. Compensation can help injured employees and their families pay for medical expenses as well as other financial loss.
A FELA lawyer will review your case to determine the exact amount of compensation you might be entitled to. To arrange a complimentary consultation, contact an experienced railroad accident lawyer today.