A Railroad Lawsuit For Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Railroad workers typically have long-term exposure to carcinogenic chemicals as well as substances like creosote, benzene, and asbestos. If you have been diagnosed with cancer and believe your exposure to these chemicals during your job caused it, you may be entitled to compensation.
Bladder cancer lawsuit allows railroad workers to sue their employers for negligence. Contact an experienced railroad lawsuit acute myeloid leukemia lawyer for more details.
Benzene Exposure
Benzene, a colorless toxic gas is a cancer-causing gas if exposed to for long periods of time. It is created in the environment as well as by gas emissions and tobacco smoke. The human body can absorb benzene through the skin. A railroad worker who develops cancer due to exposure to benzene might be able to receive monetary compensation from their employer.
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, was a pumpman for various tankers in the 1970s as well as the 80s. He was often exposed to toxic benzene. union pacific railroad lawsuit filed a suit for unjustified death against the vessel's owner after he died in 1995 of acute myeloid lymphoma.
Acute myeloid cancer is a form of cancer that can spread quickly and could be fatal within several months after diagnosis if it is not treated. The majority of the time, it is treated by chemotherapy. However, in a few cases, targeted therapy or radiation could be utilized.
We secured defense verdicts in two cases, in which plaintiffs claimed brain injury from exposure to solvents during their 23-year rail career. The defense presented expert testimony on medical causation as well as industrial hygiene and the jury concluded that the railroad's work environment was relatively safe.
Creosote Exposure
Coal creosote, also known as tar, is a blend of hundreds of chemicals that are used to protect wood, like railroad ties. It contains a number of carcinogens that are known that include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs present in creosote are taken up through the skin, and are ingested through drinking water that has been contaminated with the chemical. PAHs can also be absorbed into the lungs where they may cause lung cancer.
Creosote inhalation may trigger many symptoms, including respiratory irritation, eye problems and nausea and vomiting. It can cause skin burns that are of the second and third degrees. The coal tar creosote contains a mixture of PAH compounds, including naphthalene as well as other carcinogenic compounds such as Acenaphthene.
cancer lawsuit can affect the health of employees and their families as well. For example, some workers have developed papular basal cell carcinomas that are common skin cancers that can spread to other parts of the body. Others have suffered from chronic asthma, esophageal esophagus ulcers, and fibrosis of the liver and lungs.
In many cases, the railroad industry isn't able communicate effectively with employees about the dangers of a long-term exposure to toxic substances. It is not unusual for railroad employees to leave cranes, diesel locomotives, or forklifts running while working. The engines generate a lot of diesel exhaust that is ingested and breathed in through the lungs. They also soak rags with benzene solvents to clean machines and tools.
Worker's Compensation
Railroad workers who have been diagnosed with cancer or another chronic illness resulting from exposure to toxic chemicals such as creosote and benzene could be entitled to compensation for medical expenses and other losses. A New York railroad cancer lawyer can assist workers in pursuing claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) for monetary damages.
Many illnesses that are triggered by occupational exposure to carcinogenic chemicals such as diesel fumes, asbestos and silica do not develop until a worker is older. In the majority of cases, time limit for a statute of limitations is three years after the first diagnosis. This is why it is essential to contact an experienced attorney for railroad accidents within the first few days after they are diagnosed.
In a lawsuit that was recently filed, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC was able to successfully defend a lawsuit filed against our client by an ex-railroad employee who had been diagnosed with leukemia following decades of exposure to toxic chemicals. The plaintiff claimed that the company violated FELA for failing to provide their employees with the proper safety equipment and training.
The jury awarded the plaintiff damages of $7.5 million after concluding that the cancer was directly related 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
Former railroad employees who are diagnosed with cancer as a result of toxic exposures at work may be eligible to claim compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). In contrast to workers' compensation statutes that provide medical expenses and lost wages to those suffering, FELA is a statute based on fault, which requires proof of the railroad employer not taking steps to protect its employees from the dangers posed by chemical exposures.
Railroad companies frequently fight FELA lawsuits involving occupational diseases. Their defense lawyers often argue that the sick former employee isn't able to identify specific instances of exposure to harmful substances. They also highlight the absence of official tests showing the presence of carcinogens, or toxic substances in the equipment or parts used by the railway.
A successful FELA claim is paid for future and past physical suffering and pain as well as loss of enjoyment of life, psychological distress, and other damages. If the victim dies due to their injuries, a wrongful death claim may be pursued to seek compensation for the deceased's family members.
We collaborate with FELA attorneys to assist injured railroad employees receive the financial assistance they require. Contact us to schedule an evaluation of your case for free. We represent railroad workers across the United States including New York City, Boston and Hartford, St. Louis and Denver among others.