What Experts From The Field Want You To Learn

Colon Cancer Caused by Railroad Work

Railroad workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals on a regular routine. It has been established that this can cause cancer as well as other serious health issues.

For instance, asbestos and diesel exhaust have both been associated with colon cancer. It's also been proven that exposure to certain solvents, metal-working fluids and pesticides can increase the risk of colon cancer.

Exposures





Railroad workers are exposed to hazardous substances on a daily basis. Many carcinogens have been linked to cancer or other chronic health conditions. Former and current railroad workers who suffer from cancer or other chronic illnesses are qualified for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

For example, a widow of a former railroad worker claimed that her husband's death due to stomach cancer caused by asbestos was a result of his work as a worker for CSX Transportation Inc. She claims CSX did not provide the proper protection equipment to prevent the worker from inhaling asbestos fibers during washing, sanding or painting materials that contained the hazardous material.

Another FELA claim concerns railroad workers who were exposed to coal dust, creosote and other harmful substances while on the job. These chemicals can lead to leukemia, blood cancers, and lung diseases.

The chemical benzene is toxic that is present in many products used by railroads, such as gasoline and other solvents. Studies have found a link between benzene and a variety of cancers, including colon cancer. A knowledgeable lawyer for railroad cancer will determine if your disease was the result of exposure to harmful chemicals and file a claim for injury on your behalf. Federal law restricts the time it takes to file a claim, so it is imperative to speak with an attorney earlier rather than later.

Diagnosis

Rail workers are exposed to toxic fumes and chemicals on the job. Welding fumes and asbestos diesel exhaust, as well as weed-killers like Imazethapyr or dicamba, may cause colon cancer. Railroad workers who are diagnosed with an illness related to their job may be eligible for compensation through a lawsuit under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

An attorney for railroad accidents will be able to assist you with this claim. FELA was adopted in 1908 and requires railroads pay employees for injuries incurred during work. This includes injuries that result from the diagnosis of cancer, and it can offer substantial compensation.

In the summer of 2016, a widow in Illinois filed an action against CSX Transportation Inc. claiming that the company failed to adopt adequate safety measures to prevent her late husband's death from stomach cancer that metastasized to colon cancer. Ruth Frieson claims that her husband died from cancer after being exposed to asbestos and toxins at work. In the course of the trial, jurors were able to hear expert testimony from two doctors of rehabilitative medicine and industrial hygiene specialists, as well as testimony from the plaintiff's wife, as well as his medical oncologist, who claimed that his exposure to asbestos, diesel exhaust, and smoking cigarettes over the years caused his cancer. However, the jury delivered a verdict in favor of the defendant railroad after just under three hours of deliberation.

Treatment

It is important to seek legal counsel as soon as possible if you have been diagnosed with colon cancer due to your railroad job. Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), injured railroad workers have three years from their diagnosis to make a claim.

A lawsuit against a railroad can be complicated depending on how you were diagnosed with cancer. In certain instances it may be difficult to pinpoint the exact moment of exposure to toxic chemicals because a lot of chemicals have an extended half-life.

The jury will consider several factors when determining the amount of compensation you can receive in the event of an injury. Loss of income, medical expenses as well as pain and suffering are all aspects that the jury will consider. You could be entitled to the right to compensation for wrongful death if a loved one dies as a result.

In a recent case an ex-railroad employee claimed that colon cancer developed because of the continuous exposure to asbestos, diesel exhaust and other toxic chemicals while on the job. The railroads failed to comply with FELA safety regulations. The court that the plaintiff had not conducted an "reasonably thorough" search for information regarding his disease. The jury concluded that he did not have enough evidence to support his claim.

Damages

Railroad workers and those living near railyards are exposed various carcinogenic and toxic chemicals, like asbestos and diesel exhaust. Our Houston railroad exposure attorney could assist you in obtaining compensation if you suffered from illnesses caused by this exposure. In addition to covering past and future medical expenses, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of wages and the cost of caring for your family. Additionally, you can pursue damages for suffering and pain or loss of enjoyment life, emotional distress, and more.

Our firm recently secured a defense verdict in favor of a Class 1 railroad client in an Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) case. The plaintiff claimed that he had contracted kidney cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma due exposure to toxic substances such as creosote and diesel exhaust when working as an engineer for locomotive engines. Kidney cancer lawsuit returned a verdict for defense after being deliberating for less that one hour.

In another FELA case the lawyers of our firm won a summary judgment for the railroad in a lawsuit brought by a former freight train conductor. bnsf lawsuit alleged that he had developed lung cancer as a result of his job on the railroad and was caused by exposure to asbestos and other toxic substances. mesothelioma lawsuit argued that the claim was void due to an earlier release agreement signed in connection with the settlement of an earlier asbestos lawsuit.