A Railroad Lawsuit For Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Railroad workers frequently have prolonged exposure to carcinogenic chemical and substances such as asbestos, benzene and creosote. If union pacific railroad lawsuit believe that exposure to these chemicals during work caused cancer, you could be entitled compensation.
The FELA law allows railroad workers to sue their employers for negligence. For more details, contact an acute myeloid plaintiff in a railroad lawsuit lawyer.
Benzene Exposure
Benzene, a colorless toxic gas can cause cancer when exposed for long periods of time. It is created in the environment and also from the combustion of gas and tobacco smoke. The human body is also able to absorb benzene through the skin. union pacific railroad lawsuit who have developed cancer because 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 $1,500,000 by the company that employed her husband. Her husband, who died in 1995, worked as pumpman on several tankers in the 1970s and 1980s, and he was regularly exposed to benzene. His wife filed a claim for the wrongful death of the vessel's owner following his passed away in 1995 from acute myeloid lymphoma.
Acute myeloid tumor is a cancer that spreads quickly and can be fatal within the first few months after diagnosis if not treated. It is usually treated with chemotherapy, however in some instances radiation or targeted therapy are also possible.
We secured defense verdicts in two cases, in which plaintiffs claimed brain injury from solvent-induced exposure over their 23-year rail career. The defense offered experts' testimony on medical causality, industrial hygiene and the jury ruled that the railroad workplace was fairly safe.
Creosote Exposure
It is a mixture made up of hundreds of chemicals used to preserve wood such as railroad ties. It contains several known carcinogens including polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs in creosote are taken up through the surface of the skin or ingested through drinking water that is polluted with this chemical. cancer lawsuits can be absorbed into lung where they can cause lung cancer.
Creosote inhalation may trigger a variety symptoms, including respiratory irritation, eye problems and nausea and vomiting. It can also cause second and third degree burns to the skin. The coal tar creosote is composed of PAH compounds that include naphthalene, naphthalene, and other carcinogenic compounds like acenaphthene.
Creosote can cause negative effects on the health of workers as well as their families. Certain workers have developed papular basis cell carcinomas (common occupational skin cancers) which can 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 doesn't always effectively inform its employees regarding the dangers associated with exposure to long-term toxic substances. It is not uncommon for railroad employees to leave cranes, diesel locomotives, or forklifts in operation while working. These engines generate large amounts of diesel exhaust that can be ingested and inhaled through the lungs. They also soak rags in benzene that contains solvents to clean machines and tools.
Workers' Compensation
Railroad workers who develop cancer or other chronic diseases because of exposure to toxic chemicals, such as benzene and Creosote, may be entitled reimbursement for medical expenses and other expenses. A New York railroad cancer lawyer can help claimants pursue claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) to recover damages in cash.
Many of the ailments that result from occupational exposure to carcinogenic substances like diesel fumes, asbestos and silica, do not show up until a person is older. Thus the statute of limitation typically only lasts for three years from the point someone is first diagnosed with the illness. It is therefore crucial that potential victims speak with a railroad injury lawyer immediately 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 worker who was diagnosed with leukemia following decades of exposure to toxic chemicals. The plaintiff claimed that the firm was in violation of FELA for failing to provide employees with the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jury awarded the plaintiff damages of $7.5 million after determining that the cancer was directly linked to his work at the Chicago & North Western Railroad. The man was exposed by the company to benzene and other toxic chemicals, including creosote, benzene, and degreasing agents.
FELA
If a former railway worker is diagnosed with cancer as a result of exposure to toxic substances at work, they may file a claim under the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA. Unlike workers' compensation statutes that offer victims medical expenses as well as some lost wages, FELA is a fault-based law that requires proof that the railroad employer was negligent in protecting its workers from the dangers of chemical exposures.
Railroad companies often fight FELA lawsuits involving occupational illnesses. Defense lawyers typically claim that the former employee isn't able to identify particular instances of ailment. They also point to the absence of official test results indicating the presence of toxins or carcinogens in the equipment or parts manufactured and used by the railway company.
If you win a FELA claim and a successful FELA claim, the family members of the victim may be compensated for past and future suffering, loss in enjoyment of life, mental distress and other damages. If the victim dies in the process of the incident, the family may bring a wrongful-death lawsuit to seek the compensation.
At Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, we work with skilled FELA lawyers to assist injured railroad workers obtain the financial assistance they require. Contact cancer lawsuits for a complimentary consultation. We represent railroad workers across the United States including New York City, Boston and Hartford, St. Louis and Denver among others.