Colon Cancer Caused by Railroad Work
Exposure to chemicals that pose a risk is a common occurrence for railroad workers. This has been proven to cause many kinds of cancer and other serious illnesses.
For example, asbestos and diesel exhaust have been linked to colon cancer. It's also been demonstrated that exposure to certain solvents, metal-working fluids, and pesticides can elevate the risk of colon cancer.
Exposures
Railroad workers are exposed to harmful substances on a daily basis. A number of these carcinogens have been linked to cancer and other chronic health conditions. Present and former railroad workers who suffer from cancer or other chronic illnesses are eligible for compensation through the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
A widow of a former railroad employee claimed that her husband passed away from stomach cancer caused by asbestos resulting from his employment with CSX Transportation Inc.
A second FELA claim is about railroad workers being exposed to coal dust and other harmful agents at work. These chemicals can lead to leukemia, other blood cancers and lung diseases.
It is a poisonous chemical that can be found in various products used by railroads, such as gasoline and other solvents. Studies have linked benzene to various cancers, like colon cancer. A railroad cancer lawyer can determine if the illness that you are suffering from was caused through exposure to toxic chemicals at work and file a claim on behalf. Federal law limits the time it takes to make a claim, therefore it is essential to consult an attorney earlier rather than later.
Diagnosis
Rail workers are exposed to toxic fumes and chemicals while on the job. Asbestos, welding fumes, diesel exhaust and weed killers like Imazethapyr and dicamba could all cause cancer in the colon. Railroad workers who have been diagnosed with a medical condition that is connected to their job could be entitled to compensation through a lawsuit under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
An experienced railroad injury lawyer can assist you with this claim. FELA was passed in 1908 and, requires railroads pay for injuries sustained on the job. This could include cancer diagnosis and other injuries.
At the end of 2016 a widow from Illinois filed a lawsuit against CSX Transportation Inc. claiming that the company did not implement adequate safety measures to prevent her late husband's death from stomach cancer that became colon cancer and metastasized. The plaintiff, Ruth Frieson, claims that her husband's exposure to asbestos and toxic substances from his work at CSX caused the cancer and eventually his death. The jury heard expert testimony from two doctors of rehabilitative medicine as well as industrial hygienists as well as testimony from the plaintiff's wife, as well as his medical oncologist who claimed that exposure to asbestos, diesel exhaust and smoking cigarettes over the years caused his cancer. The jury came to with a verdict in favor of the railroad defendant after just more than three hours.
Treatment
It is crucial to seek legal advice immediately when you've been diagnosed with colon carcinoma due to your work at railroad. Under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA), injured railroad workers are allowed three years from their diagnosis to make a claim.
Depending on the manner in which your cancer was diagnosed, there could be a number of complexities when bringing a lawsuit against railroads. In union pacific railroad lawsuits may be difficult to pinpoint the exact duration of exposure to toxic chemicals because a lot of chemicals have a long-lasting half-life.
In determining the amount you will be awarded for your injury the jury will take into account several different factors. These include the loss of income, medical expenses, and the suffering and pain you have endured. If a loved one of yours died because of their injuries, you may also be legally entitled to damages for their death.
In a recent case an ex-railroad employee claimed the cancer he developed was due to his constant exposure on the job to diesel exhaust, asbestos, and other toxic chemicals. He claimed that the railroads did not comply with FELA safety regulations. The court decided, however, that the plaintiff had not conducted an "reasonably thorough" search for information about his illness. The jury decided that he did not have sufficient evidence to support his claim.
Damages
Railroad workers and those who live near railyards are exposed to various carcinogenic and toxic chemicals, including diesel exhaust and asbestos. Our Houston railroad exposure attorney could help you obtain compensation if you have developed illnesses related to this exposure. You may also be entitled to compensation for expenses for lost wages and caregiving. In addition, you may be able to pursue damages for suffering and pain and loss of enjoyment life, emotional distress and more.
Our firm obtained the defense verdict of a jury in a Federal Employers' Liability Act case on behalf of an railroad client. The plaintiff claimed that he contracted kidney cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma due to his exposure to toxic substances like creosote and diesel exhaust when working as a locomotive engine engineer. The jury returned a defense verdict after having deliberated for less than one hour.
In a separate FELA case our lawyers obtained a summary judgment on behalf of the defendant railroad in a lawsuit filed by an ex-train conductor of freight trains. The suit claimed that he suffered from lung cancer as a result of the work he did for railroads, and that it was caused by asbestos and other toxic chemicals. We argued that an earlier release contract executed in connection to the settlement of his asbestos case was invalid and barred the claim.