Colon Cancer Caused by Railroad Work
Railroad workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals on a daily routine. It has been established that this can cause cancer as well as other serious illnesses.
For instance asbestos and diesel exhaust have been associated with colon cancer. Exposure to certain metal-working fluids, pesticides, as well as solvents, can increase colon cancer risk.
Exposures
It doesn't matter if they are loading or unloading chemicals or cleaning up spills breathing diesel exhaust or using other solvents, railroad workers are exposed to dangerous substances in their jobs. Many of these carcinogens have been linked to cancer and 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 employee claimed that her husband died from stomach cancer caused by asbestos as a result of his employment with CSX Transportation Inc.
Another FELA claim concerns railroad workers who are exposed to coal dust and other hazardous agents at work. These chemicals can cause leukemia and other blood cancers and lung diseases.
Benzene is a toxic chemical that is found in the products used by railroads, such as gasoline and other solvents. Studies have linked benzene with various cancers, including colon cancer. A skilled railroad cancer lawyer can determine if the illness was the result of work-related exposure to hazardous chemicals and file a claim on your behalf. Federal law restricts your time to make a claim. Therefore, it is important to consult a lawyer immediately.
Diagnosis
Rail workers are exposed to toxic fumes and chemicals during the job. For example, asbestos fumes and welding fumes diesel exhaust, as well as weed killers like Imazethapyr or dicamba, may cause colon cancer. Railroad workers who have been diagnosed with an illness related to their work could be eligible for compensation through a lawsuit under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
A lawyer for railroad injuries can assist you with this claim. FELA was passed in 1908 and requires railroads to pay employees for injuries incurred during work. This includes injuries that result from cancer, and it can offer significant compensation.
At the end of 2016, a widow from Illinois filed an action against CSX Transportation Inc. claiming that the company failed to implement adequate safety measures to prevent her late husband's death from stomach cancer that was later diagnosed as colon cancer. The plaintiff, Ruth Frieson, claims that her husband's exposure asbestos and toxins from his employment with CSX caused the cancer and his death. In the trial, jurors were presented with expert testimony from two doctors of rehabilitative medicine as well as industrial hygienists, as well from the plaintiff's wife and his medical oncologist who claimed that his exposure to asbestos, diesel exhaust and smoking for a long time contributed to his cancer. However, the jury gave a verdict in favor of the defendant railroad after just a little over three hours of deliberation.
Treatment
If you've been diagnosed with colon cancer because of your railroad work and you've been diagnosed, it's important to get legal representation right as soon as possible. Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) railroad workers who are injured have three years from their diagnosis to make a claim.
A lawsuit against a railroad might be difficult depending on the way you were diagnosed with cancer. For instance, in certain cases, it may be difficult to pinpoint exactly when the toxic exposure occurred since many of these chemicals have a long half-life.
The jury will consider several factors in determining the amount of compensation you could receive for your injury. Loss of income, medical costs as well as pain and suffering are just a few factors that a jury will take into account. You may be entitled compensation for wrongful deaths if your loved one dies due to.
In a recent case an ex-railroad employee claimed that he contracted cancer because of the constant exposure on the job to asbestos, diesel exhaust and other toxic chemicals. The railroads failed to comply with FELA safety regulations. The court decided that the plaintiff had not conducted a "reasonably thorough" search for information about his condition. The jury decided that he did not have sufficient evidence to back his claim.
railroad controls limited lawsuit who work on railroads and live near railyards could be exposed to toxic and carcinogenic substances like asbestos and diesel exhaust. If you've developed a disease related to this exposure our Houston railroad exposure lawyer could help you obtain compensation. You could also be eligible for compensation to cover the loss of wages and costs for caregivers. You may also be entitled to damages for emotional distress or pain and suffering as well as loss of enjoyment your life.
Our firm recently obtained an appeal verdict on behalf of a Class 1 railroad client in the context of a Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) case. The plaintiff alleged that he developed Hodgkin's and kidney cancer due to his exposure to creosote, diesel exhaust and other toxic substances while working for the railroad as an engineer for locomotives. The jury returned a verdict for defense after being deliberating for less that one hour.
In a different FELA case, our lawyers won summary judgment for the railroad in a case brought by an ex-train conductor of freight trains. The suit claimed that he suffered from lung cancer due to the work he did for railroads, and that it was caused by asbestos and other toxic chemicals. We argued that an earlier release contract executed in connection with the settlement of his asbestos case barred the claim.