Railroad Cancer Lawyer: How to File a FELA Railroad Lawsuit
Federal Employees' Liability Act (FELA) allows railroad workers exposed to toxic chemicals to file a claim. A knowledgeable railroad cancer lawyer can review your case and help you obtain compensation.
A number of studies have linked benzene to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Creosote and the exhaust of diesel are carcinogens which are found in trains.
Benzene
Benzene is employed in a number of industries to make plastic, dyes, adhesives and solvents. It is also present in gasoline and cigarette smoke and has been linked to a variety of health problems including acute myeloidleukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CL), multiple myeloma as well as non-Hodgkin's lymphom. People who work in the shoe manufacturing, oil refining and chemical industries are at higher risk of exposure to benzene than other people.
In the course of working railroad workers are exposed to many carcinogens such as diesel fumes, welding fumes, and crystalline silica. If a rail worker suffers an illness that lasts for a long time or disease due to workplace exposure, they may be able to file a lawsuit under Federal law.
Patrick Haines, a partner at Napoli Shkolnik and Napoli Shkolnik, has filed two lawsuits in Fort Worth, Texas against BNSF Railroad over injuries railroad workers suffered from toxic exposures while on the job. The plaintiffs, one male and the other female, are claiming a variety of long term health problems, such as lung cancer, leukemia, kidney cancer and bladder cancer.
The lawsuits filed against BNSF assert the Railroad was negligent by not taking the necessary steps to shield workers from exposure to carcinogens, like benzene. Additionally, the lawsuits claim a violation of Federal law, referred to as the Federal Employers Liability Act. The law was passed by Congress in 1908, to give railroad workers the right to sue employers for work-related illness and injuries.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate, also called a chemical that protects plants or herbicides is a common ingredient in crops. It is also a component in Roundup which is a popular herbicide used by both home and commercial gardeners. However, some studies have connected its use to specific types of cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that glyphosate was "not likely to be cancerous to humans." However the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer has been more critical and has called the product "probably carcinogenic."
A meta-analysis of four studies [17.26.32.] found an association between glyphosate exposure and risk of hairy-cell leukemia (HCL). The I 2 and P values however were low and the heterogeneity did not reach statistical significance. 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).
EFSA has conducted an assessment of the risks of glyphosate to human health in the European Union where it is listed as a substance active. In parallel, ECHA has carried out an assessment of hazard for the substance. Both EU regulators have synchronised work plans to ensure that both assessments are taken into account when a decision regarding the renewal of glyphosate's approval is taken.
The EPA requires herbicide manufacturers to conduct a variety of studies that focus on the characteristics of the herbicide's toxicology as well as environmental fate and non-targeted effects. The EPA also conducts formal risk assessments based on these data. These evaluations quantify the likelihood of causing harm to human beings by analyzing data on human biomonitoring monitoring of food residues, and utilizing exposure models.
Creosote
Creosote is a mixture of chemicals used to treat and prolong the life of railroad ties. It was utilized until 1984 in a railyard in Houston's Fifth Ward. A plume of contamination has gotten into the predominantly black, low-income area close to. cancer lawsuits was identified as a probable cancer-causing substance, and residents have been fighting to clean up the site for a long time.
In a recent railroad cancer case, a former employee of the railroad brought suit against his employer, claiming that exposure to creosote, solvents used for degreasing, as well as other dangerous materials caused him to develop cancer. He claims to have developed myelodysplastic syndrome that progressed to acute myeloid cancer. The plaintiff claims he was responsible for removing and dropping railroad ties and then installing them "soaking wet." He says that the chemicals soaked into his clothing and skin during his work as a construction worker, and he never had the proper safety equipment.
The lawsuit claims that he suffered from burns to his feet, hands, and head, poor eyesight and weight gain from the medication he takes to treat his condition, infertility and memory loss. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with leukemia, an attorney can assist you in determining whether the presence of toxic chemicals at your workplace could have contributed to the condition.
Asbestos
Although it is now banned in the United States, asbestos once played a vital role in railroad operations. Railroad workers exposed to asbestos or dealt with asbestos were at a greater chance of developing cancers such as mesothelioma, and other pulmonary diseases. Asbestos breaks down into microscopically thin fibers which can traverse the body and end up in the lung. It can cause scarring in the lungs that is known as asbestosis or mesothelioma, an incurable disease that affects the lining of the lungs.
Railroad workers were exposed to hazardous chemicals like benzene and Creosote. Despite the danger, some railroad companies omitted and denied the risks that asbestos poses for years. It could be because asbestos was profitable, and they hoped that employees wouldn't have to prove negligence.
Those who have developed illnesses or diseases as a result of exposure to railroad material on the job should think about making an FELA complaint. Compensation may help injured workers and their families as well as employers cover medical expenses and other financial losses.
A FELA lawyer can evaluate your case and determine the full amount you could be entitled to. Contact an experienced railroad injury lawyer today to set up an appointment for a no-cost consultation.