Leukemia Caused by Railroad Work
Railroad workers transport people and goods throughout the United States. They are routinely exposed to carcinogenic substances and chemicals such as creosote and asbestos, diesel exhaust, silica sand and solvents.
This toxic exposure often leads to life-threatening illnesses such as leukemia. Fortunately, railroad employees can file lawsuits under Federal Employers Liability (FELA). bladder cancer caused by railroad how to get a settlement can assist injured railroad workers recover compensation.
FELA
Many former railroad workers are at risk of elevated risks of developing cancers that affect the lungs, colon, brain, kidney and blood. They include brakemen, yardmasters, conductors, and engineers as along with track maintenance technicians, workers on the crew, and office personnel. pancreatic cancer caused by railroad how to get a settlement were exposed to carcinogens, such as creosote diesel exhaust, and asbestos. A skilled attorney can determine whether these conditions contributed to a diagnosis of leukemia. They can also prepare a thorough FELA claim.
Contrary to workers' compensation, FELA allows railroad employees to sue employers for negligence. FELA awards for cases of cancer on the railroad are typically higher than workers compensation. This is due to the fact that the FELA award includes damages for non-economic losses, like suffering and pain. An experienced attorney may interview the client, their family and acquaintances to get an idea how much suffering.
Asbestos and other carcinogens have been linked with cancers such as mesothelioma. Railroad companies used a number of these substances even though their manufacturers knew, or should have realized, that exposure to these chemicals could cause mesothelioma or other types of cancers. For instance, a jury recently awarded $7.5 million to a railroad worker who developed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from exposures over a long period to the toxic chemical creosote found in railroad yards.
Benzene
Benzene is a colorless fluid that has a distinctive smell and is used to create gasoline, lubricants and other chemicals. It is a carcinogen that is well-known which means it causes cancer in laboratory animals as well as in humans. Benzene exposure has been associated with acute lymphocytic (CLL), acute myeloid (AML) and multiple myeloma.
These illnesses can be fatal. They can also cause other life-threatening symptoms that can be debilitating for sufferers. Some sufferers have a condition called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) where the white blood cells are destroyed. Patients with this disease can experience pain, fatigue and other problems due to the condition.
Therefore, those who suffer from such conditions are entitled to compensation. This includes money to cover medical expenses and loss of income. In certain instances railroad workers can recover damages for non-economic losses such as pain and suffering.
Many railroad workers are exposed and other dangerous substances every day. This is often due to a lack adequate safety equipment or training. A FELA claim can help those who have been exposed to benzene, or other toxic chemicals on rail yards get the financial compensation that they deserve. The compensation can be used to cover medical expenses, lost wages and future medical costs. It also can cover non-economic damages, such as suffering and pain.
Asbestos
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that binds to create a light, nearly indestructible material. It is utilized as an industrial material due to the fact that it is resistant to fire, water and sound-proof. Asbestos is also cheap to manufacture and is transformed into many kinds of products. Railroad companies used asbestos in brake shoes, insulating material and other components of trains. Unfortunately, the railroad companies didn't realize the long-term health risks associated with asbestos exposure.
lung cancer caused by railroad how to get a settlement and lung cancer as well as asbestosis are the most common illnesses resulting from exposure to asbestos. These diseases are characterized by long latency and therefore railroad workers who were exposed to asbestos may not be able to detect symptoms until years after exposure.
Asbestos degrades into microscopic fibres that can be inhaled. When railroad workers breathe these fibers into their lungs they may become lodged in their tissue. As time passes, fibers could cause asbestosis or mesothelioma. This is a lethal lung cancer that can affect the lining of the lungs.
Get in touch with an FELA lawyer if a railroad worker or a former railroad employee who has developed cancers such as bladder, colon and kidney cancers, blood cancers like leukemia or multiple myeloma, or asbestos-related illnesses, like mesothelioma and lung cancer. A skilled FELA lawyer will review your case and determine if there is a an entitlement to compensation.
Diesel Exhaust
Diesel exhaust is a common cause of concern for railroad workers. Trains travel across America to move people and goods. Every year, American railroads move 30 million travelers and 1.6 billion tons of freight. This includes cars, trucks, chemicals, grain, oil, lumber and many other items.
Diesel exhaust is a complex mix of carbon and soot, as well as more than 40 organic compounds that have been proven to cause cancer. Soot particles can be particularly harmful because they can be breathed deep into the lungs and ingested. The soot particles can also cling onto other chemicals in exhaust making them more toxic.
Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust can cause health issues such as asthma, heart disease and lung cancer. It can also trigger many other illnesses such as irritation of the eye and throat, wheezing, trouble breathing, and can make existing allergy symptoms worse.
The exposure to diesel exhaust could increase the risk of leukemia among railroad workers. This is because it contains benzene, an extremely toxic chemical. The liquid benzene has a sweet odor and is colorless and flammable. It can be found in gasoline but it is also found in glue, paint, and detergents. It affects bone marrow and blood production. It can also cause leukemia as well as myeloma.