Colon Cancer Caused by Railroad Work
Exposure to chemicals that pose a risk is a common experience for railroad workers. union pacific railroad lawsuit has been demonstrated that this can cause various types of cancer as well as other serious health conditions.
For example, asbestos and diesel exhaust have both been associated with colon cancer. It has also been established that exposure to certain solvents, metal-working fluids and pesticides may increase colon cancer risk.
Exposures
When they are unloading or loading chemicals, cleaning up spills, breathing diesel exhaust, or using other solvents, railroad workers are exposed to harmful substances while performing their job. Many of these carcinogens can be linked to cancer or other chronic health conditions. Federal Employers Liability (FELA) provides compensation to railroad employees suffering from cancer or chronic illnesses.
A widow of a retired railroad worker claimed that her husband passed away from stomach cancer caused by asbestos because of his work with CSX Transportation Inc.
A second FELA claim concerns railroad workers who are exposed to coal dust and other toxic agents while at work. These chemicals can cause leukemia, blood cancers, as well as lung disease.
Benzene, a hazardous chemical, is present in a variety of products used by the railroad. This includes fuel and solvents. Studies have linked benzene to a variety of cancers including colon cancer. A skilled lawyer for cancer of the railroad could determine if your illness was the result of work-related exposure to hazardous chemicals, and file an injury claim on your behalf. Federal law restricts your time to make a claim. It is therefore important to seek out a lawyer as soon as you can.
Diagnosis
Rail workers are exposed to toxic fumes and chemicals on the job. The fumes from welding, asbestos diesel exhaust, as well as herbicides such as Imazethapyr or dicamba, could cause colon cancer. Railroad workers who are diagnosed with a condition that is related to their work might be eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA).
An experienced railroad injury lawyer can help you pursue this claim. FELA was enacted in 1908, and required railroads to pay for injuries sustained while on the job. This includes injuries that result from cancer, and can result in significant compensation.
A widow in Illinois filed a lawsuit against CSX Transportation Inc. at the end of 2016, claiming the company failed to implement the safety measures necessary to stop the death of her husband's stomach cancer, which then metastasized to colon cancer. The plaintiff, Ruth Frieson, claims that her husband's exposure to asbestos and toxins resulting from his employment with CSX caused the cancer and his death. The jury heard evidence from two doctors from rehabilitative medicine, industrial hygienists and the wife of the plaintiff, as well as his medical oncologist. They all claimed that asbestos, diesel exhaust and a lifetime smoking contributed to the cancer. The jury came to a verdict in favor of the railroad defendant, after only a little more than three hours.
Treatment
If you've been diagnosed with colon cancer because of your railroad job it is crucial to seek legal counsel right as soon as possible. Under the Federal Employers Liability Act, railroad workers who have been injured may sue within three years of their diagnosis.
A lawsuit against a railroad may be complicated based on the manner in which you were diagnosed with cancer. In some instances, it could be difficult to pinpoint precisely the time and date of exposure to toxic substances since a lot of these chemicals have a lengthy half-life.
The jury will take into account a number of factors in determining the amount of compensation you will receive in the event of an injury. These include loss of income, medical expenses and the suffering and pain you have endured. If your loved one has died as a result 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 that the cause of his cancer was his exposure on the job to asbestos, diesel exhaust, and other toxic chemicals. He claimed that railroads did not comply with FELA safety standards. The court decided that the plaintiff was not able to conduct a "reasonably thorough" search for information about his disease. The jury concluded that he did not have sufficient evidence to prove his claim.
Damages
Railroad workers and those living close to railyards may be exposed to carcinogenic and toxic chemicals, such as asbestos and diesel exhaust. If you've been diagnosed with illnesses caused by this exposure, our Houston railroad exposure lawyer could help you obtain compensation. You could also be eligible for compensation to cover the cost of lost wages and expenses for caregivers. Additionally, you can pursue damages for pain and suffering as well as loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and more.
Our firm was awarded an appeal verdict in a Federal Employers' Liability Act case on behalf of an railroad client. The plaintiff alleged that he had developed kidney cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma as a result of his exposure to creosote, diesel exhaust, and other toxic substances when working for the railroad as an engineer of locomotives. The jury returned a defense verdict after deliberating for less than one hour.
In a separate FELA lawsuit our lawyers secured an order of summary judgment in favor the railroad defendant. The case was filed by an ex-train conductor. The suit claimed that he developed lung cancer as a result of his railroad job and was triggered by exposure to asbestos and other toxic substances. We argued that the claim was barred by a prior release agreement executed in connection with his settlement of an asbestos-related case earlier.