FELA Lawsuits - Why You Should File a Railroad LawsuitThe Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA) provides current, past and retired railroad workers the right to file a lawsuit against their employer if they contract cancer or other chronic illnesses due to exposure on the job to benzene, creosote, carcinogens such as diesel fumes. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation with an experienced railroad lawyer.FELA LawsuitsEvery day railroads transport people, products, and services across the nation. These massive systems require a lot of railroad workers to operate and manage. The job of a rail worker is extremely dangerous, despite technological advances. The Federal Employers Liability Act was passed in order to ensure that railroad workers are not injured.In contrast to workers' comp that is a no-fault insurance system plaintiffs must show that their railroad employer was negligent to receive payment under FELA. Generally, this is done through showing that the railroad's actions violated a federal norm, such as the OSHA regulations, Boiler Inspection Act, or Safety Appliance Act.In lung cancer lawsuit is simpler to prove negligence than other personal injury cases. This is due to the pure comparative fault criterion that allows workers to receive damages even if they were the cause of their injuries.The lawyers at Shaw Cowart have extensive experience in FELA claims and know how to analyze the evidence in these cases. Since the time for filing an FELA claim is very limited so it is crucial to find an attorney early enough after your injury. This allows us to gather statements of documents, papers, and other evidence prior to it disappearing. Contact us today for a a consultation with an attorney for railroad litigation.Exposure to carcinogensRailroad workers are at risk of contracting a variety of illnesses due to exposure to toxic chemicals. For decades, railroad workers have been exposed to welding fumes, diesel fumes and asbestos, lead, silica and creosote. Kidney cancer lawsuit can cause cancer and other ailments among railroad employees. If a former or present railroad employee suffers from an illness directly related to the chemicals that they were exposed to while at work and is able to file an FELA suit. Kidney cancer lawsuit have revealed that railroad workers have a higher risk of cancer than those working in other occupations. Some of the most common kinds of cancers that are seen in railroad workers include lung, esophageal and throat cancer as well as basal cell carcinomas of the neck and head.Benzene is one of the most frequently used carcinogens which railroad workers are exposed. Benzene is a colorless gas that has a sweet smell. It was banned in the United States more than 20 years ago but is present in crude oil, gasoline and diesel exhaust. It is also an ingredient in some solvents and degreasers. Latonya Payne is suing BNSF and the City of Houston, Texas, after her nephew died from leukemia. Her lawsuit claims the railroad and city contaminated the area with toxic chemicals from the rail yard of the railroad. Giles lived only a couple blocks away from the rail yard and creosote treatment facility.Cancer Signs and SymptomsRailroad transportation is essential to the American economy. The railroads in America transport 30 million people each year and 1.6 billion tonnes of freight. This includes food, lumber and crude oil, grains as in addition to vehicles chemical and metal ore. A FELA injury lawyer could assist you in filing a lawsuit against your employer.For example, one former Union Pacific worker claims that the company's negligence caused him to develop basal cell carcinoma, a skin cancer. He claims that exposure to sunlight and creosote coated railroad connections between 1968 and 2009 caused the condition. He also claims that he was not receive the safety equipment to safeguard himself from workplace hazards.Another plaintiff, LaTonya Payne, says her breast cancer was a result of her work at a Union Pacific track yard. The Houston resident said she first noticed the lump in her breast in the year 2016. The mass was found to be malignant when doctors removed it. The cancer has taken over her lymph nodes, lungs liver and esophagus.The Houston mayor contacted the Biden administration for fines and orders to clean up the Union Pacific site located in his city. The site was used until the 1980s to store wooden railroad ties that were treated with creosote, which is a chemical blend of coal tar and other poisonous chemicals. In a study that was released by Texas health officials in January, the area was associated with clusters of acute leukemia, lung cancer, bladder cancer colon and rectal cancers and rheumatoid arthritis.Signs and symptoms of other DiseasesRailroad workers face a myriad of health risks, including those who are exposed to chemicals on a daily basis. The Federal Employers Liability Act allows railway employees to seek compensation when their employer violates the law. Chaffin Luhana is dedicated to helping these victims receive the maximum amount of compensation they are entitled to.According to research, those working who work in the railroad industry are more prone to developing cancer. Workers are exposed to harmful chemicals whether they work inside locomotives or in yards. A study revealed that railroad workers exposed to diesel exhaust had a greater risk of lung cancer. Benzene is another chemical that has been linked to cancer among railroad workers. It is present in many degreasers, solvents and other products used in the railroad industry. It is also a component in diesel exhaust, and is known to cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma among railroad workers.In September the month of September, a jury awarded $7.5 million to an employee of the railroad who was diagnosed with leukemia. The plaintiff worked for Chicago and North Western Railroad and later Union Pacific Railroad Company for many years. He claimed that he did not wear protective equipment while constructing railroad ties that were soaked in creosote. He also claimed to have been exposed to degreasing agents and lead. He was diagnosed with myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) that eventually progressed to acute myeloid leukemia.