The 10 Most Terrifying Things About Railroad Lawsuit Laryngeal Cancer

FELA Lawsuits - Why You Should File a Railroad Lawsuit

The Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA) gives current, former and retired railroad employees the right to file a lawsuit against their employer if they develop cancer or another chronic illness through exposure to benzene or creosote, carcinogens like diesel fumes, and other. Call today for a free consultation with an experienced railroad lawyer today.

FELA Lawsuits

Railroads transport goods, services, and people throughout the country each day.  railroad lawsuits  requires a huge number of railroad workers to run and manage these massive systems. The job of a rail worker is extremely dangerous despite technological advances. Therefore, the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) was enacted in order to protect injured railroad workers.

Contrary to workers' compensation which is a no-fault insurance system claimants under FELA must demonstrate that their railroad's employer was negligent in order to receive compensation. This is usually accomplished by proving that the railroad's actions violated the federal standard, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, Boiler Inspection Act or Safety Appliance Act.

In FELA cases it is more straightforward to prove negligence than other personal injury lawsuits. This is because of the standard of comparative negligence which permits workers to recover damages even if their own actions contributed to their injuries.

The lawyers at Shaw Cowart have extensive experience in FELA claims and are able to examine the evidence in these cases. It is essential to engage an attorney as soon as you can following your injury, as the time period for filing an FELA claims is short. This allows us to gather statements of documents, papers, and other evidence prior to it disappearing. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with a railroad litigation attorney.

Exposure to carcinogens

Railroad workers are at risk of contracting a variety of ailments due to exposure toxic chemicals and toxins working. For many years, railroad workers have been exposed to diesel fumes, lead, asbestos, silica and creosote. This is why these chemicals can cause cancer and other diseases in railroad workers. If a former or current railroad employee is suffering from an illness that is directly linked to the chemicals they were exposed to while at work and is able to submit an FELA suit.

Numerous studies have revealed railroad workers to be more susceptible to developing cancer than other professions. Some of the most common cancers for railroad workers are lung, esophageal, as well as throat cancers, aswell as basal-cell cancers of the head and neck.

One of the most frequent carcinogens railroad workers are exposed to is benzene. The smell of benzene is sweet and is an odorless, colorless gas. It was banned in the United States more than 20 years ago, but it is present in gasoline, crude oil and diesel exhaust. It is also a component of certain solvents and degreasers. Latonya Paige is suing BNSF and the City of Houston and Texas after her nephew died of leukemia. The lawsuit claims that the city and railroad have contaminated her neighborhood with toxic chemicals from the railroad's train yard. Giles lived just two blocks away from the creosote treatment site and the railyard.

Cancer Symptoms

Railroad transportation is critical to the American economy. Every year, America's railroads transport 30 million people and 1.6 billion tons of freight, including food lumber, crude oil, grain, vehicles and chemicals, as well as crushed stone and metal ore. Railroad workers are exposed to a diverse variety of dangerous substances, and many develop illnesses like cancer as a result. A FELA injury lawyer can help you file a suit against your employer.

For example, one former Union Pacific worker claims that the company's negligence caused him to develop basal cell carcinoma, which is a skin cancer. He claims that his exposure to sunlight and creosote-coated railroad ties between the years 1968 and 2009 caused the condition. He also claims he did not receive the proper safety equipment to safeguard himself from the dangers of work.

Another plaintiff, LaTonya Payne, says her breast cancer was a result of her work at a Union Pacific track yard. The Houston resident claims she first noticed a lump in her breast in 2016. When doctors removed the lump and found it was malignant. The cancer has been spreading from her lymph nodes to her lungs, liver, and esophagus.

The Houston mayor has asked the Biden administration to seek fines and orders for the cleanup of a Union Pacific site in his city. The site was used to store railroad tie made of wood treated with coal tar and other toxic chemical compounds until the 1980s. A study released in January by Texas health officials connected the area to clusters of acute myeloidleukemia, colon, bladder, lung and rectal cancers, as also rheumatoid arthritis.

Symptoms of other diseases

Railroad workers face many health risks, and this is especially true for those who are exposed to chemicals on a regular basis. The Federal Employers Liability Act gives railway workers the right to pursue the right to compensation if their employer violates the law. Chaffin Luhana is committed to ensuring that victims receive full compensation they deserve.

Studies show that workers in the railway industry are more likely to develop forms of cancer. Workers are exposed to harmful chemicals whether they work inside locomotives or in yards. For example an investigation has shown that railroad workers who were exposed to diesel exhaust were more likely to suffer from lung cancer. Benzene is another chemical that has been associated with cancer in railroad workers. It is present in a variety of solvents, degreasers and other products used by the railroad industry. It is also found in diesel exhaust and is believed to cause non Hodgkin lymphoma among rail workers.

In September the month of September, a jury voted $7.5 million to an employee of a railroad who contracted leukemia. The plaintiff was employed by Chicago and North Western Railroad and later, for Union Pacific Railroad Company, for a long time. He claimed that he didn't wear protective equipment when installing railroad ties soaked in creosote. He also claimed that he was exposed degreasing solvents as well as lead. He was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) which later progressed to acute myeloid leukemia.