Colon Cancer Caused by Railroad Work
Regular exposure to hazardous chemicals is a common occurrence for railroad workers. It has been demonstrated that this can cause a variety of cancers and other serious ailments.
Asbestos and diesel exhaust, for example have been linked with colon cancer. It's also been confirmed that exposure to certain solvents, metal-working fluids, and pesticides can elevate the risk of colon cancer.
Exposures
Whether they are unloading or loading chemicals or cleaning up spills breathing diesel exhaust, or using other solvents, railroad workers are exposed to hazardous substances while working. Many carcinogens have been linked to cancer or other chronic health conditions. Federal Employers Liability (FELA) provides compensation to railroad workers suffering from cancer or chronic illnesses.
For instance, a wife of a former railroad worker claimed that her husband's death due to stomach cancer caused by asbestos was due to his employment as a worker for CSX Transportation Inc. She asserts that CSX failed to provide adequate safety equipment to shield the worker from inhaling asbestos fibers when sanding, washing and painting materials that contained hazardous material.
A second FELA claim concerns railroad workers exposed to coal dust and other hazardous agents at work. These chemicals can lead to leukemia, other blood cancers and lung diseases.
Benzene, a poisonous chemical, is found in a wide range of products used by the railroad. This includes fuel and solvents. Studies have linked benzene with multiple cancers like colon cancer. A lawyer for railroad cancer will determine if the disease you're suffering from was caused through exposure to toxic chemicals at work and file a claim on your behalf. Federal law restricts the time required to make a claim, therefore it is essential to consult an attorney earlier rather than later.
Diagnosis
Rail workers are exposed to toxic fumes and chemicals while on the job. Kidney cancer lawsuit , asbestos, diesel exhaust and herbicides such as Imazethapyr and dicamba may all cause colon cancer. Railroad workers diagnosed with a disease related to their job may be eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
An attorney for railroad accidents can assist you in this claim. FELA which was passed in 1908 required railroads to pay for injuries that occur while working. This could include cancer diagnoses as well as other injuries.
In the summer of 2016, a widow in Illinois filed an action against CSX Transportation Inc. claiming that the company did not take adequate safety measures to prevent her husband's death from stomach cancer which was later diagnosed as colon cancer. Ruth Frieson claims that her husband died from cancer after being exposed to toxins and asbestos during his work. The jury were able to hear expert testimony from two doctors of rehabilitative medicine as well as industrial hygienists as well as testimony from the plaintiff's wife, as well as his medical oncologist, who claimed that his exposure to diesel exhaust, asbestos, and smoking for a long time caused his cancer. The jury returned with a verdict in favor of the railroad after just a little over three hours.
Treatment
If you've been diagnosed with colon cancer due to your railroad job and you've been diagnosed, it's important to seek legal counsel right immediately. Under the Federal Employers Liability Act, railroad workers who are injured may sue within three years from the date of their diagnosis.
A lawsuit against a railroad could be difficult depending on the way you were diagnosed with cancer. In certain cases it is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment of exposure to toxic chemicals because a lot of chemicals have a long-lasting half-life.
In determining the amount you are entitled to for your injuries, the jury will consider various factors. Loss of income, medical costs as well as suffering and pain are all factors that the jury will be considering. If your loved one has died because of their injuries, you may also be in the position of being entitled to damages for wrongful deaths.
In a recent incident, an ex-railroad employee claimed he developed cancer due to his exposure on the job to diesel exhaust, asbestos and other toxic chemicals. He claimed that railroads failed to comply with FELA safety standards. However, the court determined that the plaintiff didn't conduct an "reasonably diligent" search for information regarding his illness. The jury found that he did not have sufficient evidence to support his claim.
Damages
Railroad workers and people living near railyards could be exposed to toxic and carcinogenic substances like asbestos and diesel exhaust. Our Houston railroad exposure lawyer can assist you in obtaining compensation should you developed illnesses that were due to this exposure. You may also be entitled to compensation to cover expenses for lost wages and caregiving. You may also be able to seek damages for emotional distress and pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment your life.
Our firm recently obtained the defense verdict on behalf of a Class 1 railroad client in the context of a Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) case. The plaintiff claimed that he had developed Hodgkin's and kidney cancer due to his work-related exposure to creosote diesel exhaust and other toxic substances when working on the railroad as a locomotive engineer. After less than an hour of deliberation, the jury returned with a defense verdict.
In another FELA lawsuit our lawyers secured an injunction in favor of the defendant railroad. The case was filed by an ex-train conductor. The lawsuit claimed that he had lung cancer due to his railroad work, and was caused by asbestos and other toxic chemicals. We argued that the claim was barred due to a prior release agreement executed in connection with his settlement of an earlier asbestos case.