A Railroad Lawsuit For Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Railroad workers are often exposed to prolonged exposure to carcinogenic chemicals as well as substances such as creosote, benzene, and asbestos. If you have been diagnosed with cancer and believe that your exposure to these chemicals during your job caused it, you may be entitled to compensation.
The FELA law allows railroad employees to sue their employers for negligence. Contact an experienced railroad lawsuit acute myeloidleukemia lawyer for more details.
Benzene Exposure
Benzene, a colorless toxic gas is a cancer-causing gas when exposed to it for long periods of time. It is naturally produced in the environment, and also through the combustion of gas and smoking tobacco. The skin also absorbs benzene. Leukemia lawsuit who has developed cancer due to exposure to benzene may be eligible for compensation in the form of monetary payments from their employer.
In one case, the widow of a railroad employee who passed away was awarded $1,500,000 by the company which employed her husband. Her husband was pumpman on several tankers during the 1970s and 80s, and was exposed to benzene. When he passed away from acute myeloidleukemia in 1995, his wife filed a wrongful death claim against the vessel's owner.
Acute myeloid cancer is a cancer that is rapidly spreading and can be fatal within the first few months after diagnosis if not treated. It is most commonly treated with chemotherapy, but in certain cases radiation therapy and targeted therapy can be employed.
We obtained defense verdicts in 2 cases, in which plaintiffs claimed they suffered brain injury due to exposure to solvents over their 23-year career on the railroad. The defense presented expert testimony on medical causation and industrial hygiene and the jury concluded that the railroad's work environment was reasonably safe.
Creosote Exposure
Coal creosote tar is a mix of hundreds of chemicals that are used to preserve wood, like railroad ties. It is a mixture of known carcinogens, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Creosote's PAHs are taken up through the skin, and can be ingested via drinking water contaminated with the chemical. PAHs can also be absorbed into the lungs where they may cause lung cancer.
Creosote-inhalation exposure can cause a variety of symptoms that include irritation to the respiratory tract, eye problems nausea and vomiting. It can cause skin burns of the third and second degrees. The coal tar creosote compound is composed of PAH compounds like naphthalene and other carcinogenic compounds, such as acenaphthene.
Exposure to creosote can affect the health of employees and their families and their families, as well. For cancer lawsuit , some employees have developed basal cell cancers of the papular type which are typical occupational skin cancers that can spread to other areas of the body. Other workers have suffered from chronic lung disease the liver fibrosis, esophageal, and esophage and chronic bronchitis.
The railroad industry does not often communicate effectively with its employees about the dangers associated with long-term exposure to toxic substances. It is not uncommon for railroad employees to leave cranes, diesel engines, or forklifts operating while they work. Diesel exhaust from these engines could be inhaled and consumed. They also soak rags in benzene that contains solvents to clean machines and tools.
Workers' Compensation
Railroad workers who are diagnosed with cancer or a chronic illness because of exposure to toxic chemicals like creosote or benzene may be entitled to compensation for their medical expenses and other damages. cancer lawsuit could assist those seeking claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) to recover damages in cash.
cancer lawsuits resulting from occupational exposures to carcinogenic substances, such as asbestos and diesel fumes don't manifest until the worker is older. Thus the statute of limitation in the majority of cases is only for three years from the time an individual is first diagnosed with the disease. It is therefore crucial that victims get in touch with an attorney for railroad injuries as quickly as possible after being diagnosed.
In a recent instance, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC successfully defended the suit brought against our client by a former railway worker who was diagnosed with leukemia after years of exposure to toxic chemicals. The plaintiff alleged that the company violated FELA in failing to provide their employees with the proper safety equipment and education.
The jury gave the plaintiff $7.5 million in damages after finding that his cancer was directly related to his job on the Chicago & North Western Railroad. The man was exposed by the company to benzene and other toxic chemicals like creosote, benzene, and degreasing agents.
FELA
Former railroad employees who are diagnosed with cancer resulting from exposure to toxic chemicals at work could be in a position to file a claim for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). In contrast to workers' compensation statutes that provide medical expenses and lost wages to victims, FELA is a statute based on fault, which requires proof that the railroad employer is not adequately protecting its workers from the dangers of chemical exposures.
Railroad companies frequently fight FELA lawsuits that involve occupational diseases. Defense lawyers typically claim that the former employee isn't able to pinpoint specific instances of health problems. They also point out the absence of official tests indicating the presence of carcinogens, or contaminants in parts or equipment used by the railway.
A successful FELA claim is awarded compensation for past and future physical pain and suffering as well as loss of enjoyment of life, psychological suffering, and other damages. If the victim dies as a result of their injuries, a wrongful death claim could be filed to obtain the compensation of the deceased's family members.
At Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, we collaborate with experienced FELA lawyers to help injured railroad workers receive the financial assistance they require. Contact us for a free consultation. We represent railroad workers across the nation, including New York City, Boston, Hartford, St. Louis, Denver, and other cities.