Railroad Cancer Lawyer: How to File a FELA Railroad Lawsuit
Railroad employees who are exposed to toxic chemicals have the right to claim compensation under the Federal Employees Liability Act (FELA). A skilled railroad cancer lawyer will evaluate your claim and assist you in pursuing compensation.
Many studies have linked benzene with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Other carcinogens found on trains include creosote and diesel exhaust.
Benzene
In many industries, the use of benzene is to make plastic, dyes and adhesives. It is also present in gasoline and cigarette smoke, and has been linked to a variety of health issues, including acute myeloid lymphoma (AML) chronic lymphocytic Leukemia (CL), Multiple Myeloma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. People who work in the oil refining, shoe manufacturing and chemical industries are at a greater risk of benzene exposure over other workers.
Railroad workers are typically exposed to a range of carcinogens as a result of their work, including diesel fumes, welding fumes, and silica. Rail workers who develop a long-term illness or disease as a result exposure to workplace hazards could be able make a claim.
Patrick Haines, a partner at Napoli Shkolnik, has filed two lawsuits in Fort Worth, Texas against BNSF Railroad, claiming injuries railroad workers suffered due to toxic exposures while on the job. The plaintiffs both males and the female one, have claimed a variety of long term health issues, such as lung cancer, leukemia, kidney cancer and bladder cancer.
The lawsuits against BNSF claim that the Railroad was negligent for not taking the necessary steps to shield workers from exposure to carcinogens such as benzene. Moreover, the lawsuits assert a violation of Federal law, which is known as the Federal Employers Liability Act. This law was passed by Congress in 1908, to provide railroad workers with the right to claim compensation from employers for work-related illnesses and injuries.
Glyphosate
Glyphosate is a herbicide, or plant-protecting chemical, that is used on a variety of crops. It is also an ingredient in Roundup which is a well-known weed killer used by many home and commercial gardeners and farmers. Certain studies have linked it to specific types cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated that glyphosate "not likely to be cancerous to humans." However, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has been more scathing and said this chemical "probably carcinogenic."
A meta-analysis of four studies [17,2632] showed that glyphosate is linked to hairy cell leukemia. However the I 2 and P values were not high, 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 listed as an active substance, EFSA has conducted an assessment of the substance's risks to human health. ECHA also conducted a risk assessment for the substance. Both EU regulators have synchronised work plans to ensure that both assessments are taken into account when a decision about the renewal of glyphosate's approval is taken.
The EPA requires herbicide makers to conduct numerous studies that focus on the toxicological characteristics of the herbicide, environmental fate, and possible non-targeted impacts. These data are also used to conduct formal risk assessments by the EPA. These assessments assess the probability of causing harm to humans by analyzing data on biomonitoring of human health, food residues monitoring and utilizing exposure models.
Creosote
Creosote is a mixture of chemicals that are used to treat and prolong the life of railroad ties. It was used up to 1984 in a railroad yard in Houston's Fifth Ward. A plume of contamination has spread to a predominantly black, low-income area nearby. Creosote has been deemed to be a possible cancer-causing chemical and residents have been fighting to clean up the site for years.
In a recent cancer case, a former railroad worker sued his employer, claiming that exposure to creosote, solvents for degreasing and other harmful substances led to his development of cancer. He says that he developed myelodysplastic disease, which later developed into acute myeloid leukemia. The plaintiff claims that he was liable to pick up railroad ties, drop them off and then reinstall them "soaking wet."
The lawsuit also claims that he suffered from burns to his hands, feet and head, and from bad eyesight and weight gain due to the medication he's on for his disease. He also was suffering from impotence and memory issues. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with leukemia, a lawyer will help you determine whether the harmful chemicals present in your workplace may have contributed to your condition.
Asbestos
Asbestos was once an essential part of railroad operations, although it is now banned. Railroad workers who handled or were exposed to the toxic material faced an elevated risk of developing cancers such as mesothelioma and other pulmonary illnesses. Asbestos is broken down into microscopic thin fibers that could traverse the body and end up in the lung. This can cause scarring of the lungs, which is known as mesothelioma or asbestosis, which is a fatal illness that affects the lining of lungs.
Railroad workers were frequently exposed to dangerous chemicals, like benzene as well as creosote. Despite lawsuits against union pacific railroad of asbestos, some railroad companies have ignored and dismissed asbestos hazards for a long time. It could be because asbestos was profitable, and the company hoped employees wouldn't be able to prove negligence.
Those who developed diseases or illnesses as a consequence of exposure to railroad materials should consider filing a FELA claim. Compensation can help injured employees and their families pay for medical expenses and other financial loss.
A FELA lawyer will review your case and determine the full amount to which you are entitled. To schedule a free consultation, contact a skilled railroad injury attorney today.