Colon Cancer Caused by Railroad Work
Railroad workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals on a regular basis. It has been proved that this can cause cancer and other serious ailments.
Asbestos and diesel exhaust, for example, have both been linked with colon cancer. Exposure to certain metal-working fluids, pesticides, as well solvents could increase colon cancer risk.
Exposures
Railroad workers are exposed to hazardous substances on a daily routine. Many of these carcinogens have been linked to cancer and other chronic health conditions. Railroad workers, both former and present, who suffer from cancer or other chronic illnesses are qualified for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
A widow of a railroad employee who retired said that her husband had died from stomach cancer caused by asbestos due to his work with CSX Transportation Inc.
A second FELA claim is about railroad workers being exposed to coal dust and other harmful agents while at work. These chemicals can cause leukemia, blood cancers, as well as lung disease.
Benzene, a toxic chemical, is found in a wide range of products used by the railroad. This includes fuel as well as solvents. Studies have linked benzene to multiple cancers like colon cancer. A skilled lawyer for railroad cancer could determine if your illness was the result of exposure to dangerous chemicals and file an injury claim on your behalf. Federal law limits the amount of time you need to submit a claim, so it is essential to consult an attorney sooner rather than later.
Diagnosis
Rail workers are exposed to toxic fumes and chemicals on the job. The fumes from welding, asbestos diesel exhaust, as well as herbicides such as Imazethapyr or dicamba, could cause colon cancer in all of us. Railroad workers diagnosed with a disease related to their work might be entitled to compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
A lawyer for railroad injuries will be able to assist you with this claim. FELA was passed in 1908 and requires railroads to pay employees for injuries that occur on the job. This includes cancer diagnoses as well as other injuries.
At the end of 2016, a widow from Illinois filed an action against CSX Transportation Inc. claiming that the company did not implement adequate safety measures to prevent her late husband's death from stomach cancer which was later diagnosed as colon cancer. Ruth Frieson claims that her husband died from cancer after being exposed to toxins and asbestos during his work. The jury were presented with expert testimony by two doctors of rehabilitative medicine and industrial hygiene specialists, as well from the plaintiff's wife and his medical oncologist who claimed that his exposure to asbestos, diesel exhaust, and smoking cigarettes for years contributed to his cancer. The jury pronounced an verdict in the favor of the railroad after just a little more than three hours.
Treatment
If you've been diagnosed with colon cancer because of your railroad work, it is important to get legal representation right now. Under the Federal Employers Liability Act, railroad workers who are injured can bring a lawsuit within three years from the date of their diagnosis.
Depending on how the cancer was diagnosed, there could be a myriad of complications in bringing a suit against a railroad. In certain cases it isn't easy to pinpoint the exact duration of toxic exposure because many chemicals have a long-lasting half-life.
The jury will take into consideration a variety of aspects when determining the amount compensation you will receive for your injuries. This includes loss of income, medical expenses and the suffering and pain you have endured. You may be entitled to wrongful-death damages if your loved ones die as a result.
In a recent case, an ex-railroad employee claimed he developed cancer due to his exposure on the job to asbestos, diesel exhaust, and other toxic chemicals. He claimed that railroads didn't comply with FELA safety standards. However, the court determined that the plaintiff had not conducted a "reasonably diligent" research to find out more about his illness. The jury ruled that he didn't have sufficient evidence to back his claim.
Damages
Railroad workers and people living close to railyards may be exposed to toxic and carcinogenic substances like asbestos and diesel exhaust. class action lawsuit against norfolk southern railroad could help you get compensation if you contracted illnesses linked to this exposure. In addition to covering past and future medical expenses, you could be eligible for compensation for lost income and expenses for caring. In addition, you may be able to pursue damages for suffering and pain as well as loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and many more.
Our firm secured a defense verdict in the Federal Employers' Liability Act case on behalf of one of our railroad clients. The plaintiff claimed that he had contracted kidney cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma because of his exposure to toxic substances such as creosote and diesel exhaust when working as an engine engineer for locomotives. The jury returned a verdict in defense after deliberating for less than one hour.
In a separate FELA lawsuit our lawyers obtained a an order of summary judgment in favor the railroad in question. The case was filed by a former train conductor. The suit claimed that he developed lung cancer due to his job on the railroad and was triggered by exposure to asbestos and other toxic substances. We argued that an earlier release contract signed in connection to the settlement of his asbestos-related case barred the claim.