Whats Holding Back This Railroad Lawsuit Esophageal Cancer Industry

A Railroad Lawsuit For Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Railroad workers typically have long-term exposure to carcinogenic chemical and substances like creosote, benzene, and asbestos. If you've been diagnosed with cancer and believe that your exposure to these chemicals during your job caused it, you could be entitled to compensation.

The FELA allows railroad workers to sue for negligence. Contact an experienced railroad lawsuit acute myeloidleukemia lawyer for more details.

Benzene Exposure

It is a colorless, toxic gas that can cause cancer to people who are exposed over long durations. It is naturally produced in the environment, and also by gas emissions and smoking tobacco. The skin also absorbs benzene. Railroad workers who have suffered from cancer as a result of exposure to benzene could be able to sue their employer for monetary compensation.

In one instance the deceased railroad employee's widow was awarded damages of $1,500,000 from the company that employed him. The late husband worked as a pump man on various tankers during the 1970s and 80s, and was frequently exposed to benzene. His wife filed a lawsuit for the wrongful death of the vessel owner after he died in 1995 of acute myeloid lymphoma.

Acute myeloid leukemia is a cancer that is fast-moving and can cause death in several months if it is not treated immediately. The majority of cases, it is treated by chemotherapy. However, in some cases, targeted therapy or radiation may be used.

We obtained defense verdicts for a class 1 railroad in two cases in which plaintiffs claimed injury to their brains from solvent-induced exposure over their 23 years on the rails. The defense offered expert witness testimony on medical causation, industrial hygiene and the jury found that the railway workplace was relatively safe.

Creosote Exposure

Coal creosote, also known as tar, is a blend of hundreds of chemicals that are used to preserve wood, like railroad ties. It is known to contain carcinogens including polycyclic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs that are found in creosote may be taken up through the surface of the skin, or ingested by drinking water that is contaminated with this chemical. PAHs can be absorbed into lung where they can cause lung cancer.

Creosote exposure through inhalation can trigger a variety of symptoms that include eye irritation, respiratory irritation as well as nausea and vomiting. It can also cause third and fourth degree burns to the skin. The coal tar creosote chemical is an amalgamation of PAH compounds like naphthalene and other carcinogenic compounds such as Acenaphthene.

Creosote exposure could affect the health of employees and their families as well. Certain workers have developed papular base carcinomas (common occupational skin cancers) that can spread to different parts of the body. Some workers have also suffered from chronic lung disease the liver fibrosis, esophageal, and esophage and chronic bronchitis.





The railroad industry often isn't able communicate effectively with employees on the dangers of prolonged exposure to toxic substances. It is not uncommon for railroad employees to leave cranes, diesel locomotives or forklifts operating while they work. Diesel exhaust from these engines could be inhaled and consumed. They also dip rags into solvents that contain benzene for cleaning machines and tools.

Worker's Compensation

Railroad workers who develop cancer or other chronic diseases due to exposure toxic chemicals like benzene and Creosote could be entitled to compensation for their medical costs and other expenses. A New York railroad cancer attorney can assist workers in pursuing claims for damages in the form of money under the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA.

Many of the ailments that result from occupational exposure to carcinogenic chemicals like diesel fumes asbestos and silica, do not manifest themselves until a worker is older. In most cases, the statutes of limitations only last three years following the first diagnosis. Therefore, it is essential to contact an attorney who handles railroad injuries as quickly as possible after being diagnosed.

In a case that was recently heard, Napoli Shkolnik PLLC successfully defended an action brought against our client by a former railway worker who was diagnosed with leukemia after decades of exposure to toxic chemicals. The plaintiff claimed that the firm violated FELA for failing to provide their employees with the proper safety equipment and training.

The jury gave the plaintiff $7.5 million in damages, after determining that his cancer was linked to his work on the Chicago & North Western Railroad. The man was exposed by the company to benzene and other toxic chemicals such as creosote, benzene and other degreasing agents.

FELA

If a former railroad employee is diagnosed with cancer due to exposure to toxic substances on the job the worker may make a claim under the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA. In contrast to workers' compensation laws, which provide victims with medical expenses and some lost wages, FELA is a fault-based law that requires evidence that the railroad's employer failed to protect its workers from the dangers of chemical exposures.

Railroad companies frequently fight FELA lawsuits involving occupational illnesses. asbestos lung cancer lawsuit argue that the sick former employee is unable identify specific instances of exposures that are harmful. They also point out the absence of official tests showing the presence of carcinogens and toxic substances in the equipment or parts employed by the railway.

A successful FELA claim is the compensation for future and past physical suffering and pain in addition to loss of enjoyment life, psychological distress and other related damages. If Pancreatic cancer lawsuit is killed in the process then the family can pursue wrongful-death claims to claim compensation.

At Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, we work with skilled FELA lawyers to help injured railroad workers receive the financial help they require. Contact us today for a no-cost consultation. We represent railroad workers across the country, including in New York City, Boston, Hartford, St. Louis, Denver, and other cities.