Railroad Lawsuits and Asthma
Railroad workers are often exposed to fumes and toxic chemicals like creosote, silica asbestos, and creosote. The exposures could cause respiratory diseases like asthma.
Fortunately, victims are able to recover compensation under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA). A good railroad lawsuit asthma lawyer will aid. Here are some examples of settlements and verdicts.
Diesel Exhaust
Because trains run on diesel fuel, a majority of railroad workers are exposed to a variety of diesel fumes through the day. The fumes consist of tiny soot particles, gases, and other toxic chemicals that can cause serious health issues. The exposure to these fumes can cause asthma and other lung diseases.
Esophageal cancer lawsuit have been aware of the dangers of exposure to diesel exhaust for a long time. Many companies haven't taken the proper precautions to protect their workers. Railroad workers have been diagnosed with respiratory diseases that are debilitating.
Excessive exposure to diesel fumes when coupled with other workplace hazards, such as asbestos, creosote and even silica, can lead to life-changing lung diseases, like asthma. These conditions can hinder railroad workers from returning to their jobs, and may even reduce their overall health.
In one case our attorneys successfully secured an FELA lawsuit brought by an engineer working on locomotives who claimed that he had developed leukemia and other cancers due to his exposure to toxic chemicals and diesel fumes when working on railroad equipment. The court granted summary judgment for the railroads that were defendants. It decided that Plaintiff did not conduct an appropriate search for information regarding his illness when the disease was discovered, and that the claims he made are time-barred.
Dust
Rail workers are exposed to various dusts, like silica from ballast and coal dust. They could also be exposed to chemical or petroleum fuels. These toxic substances pose a threat to the health of workers and can lead to respiratory diseases like asthma.
Our FELA lawyer has assisted many people get compensation for their exposure. FELA allows those suffering from certain diseases to hold employers accountable for not protecting them from dangerous workplaces.
Interstitial lung disease lawsuit , for instance it awarded $3.7 Million to an engineer from the past who was suffering from pulmonary fibroidsis, a lung condition that progresses due to scarring in the lung tissue. His FELA claim alleged that the inhalation of diesel exhaust on hundreds, if not thousands, of occasions contributed to the development of his lung disease. The testimony of the defense experts could not convince jurors that the locomotive engineer's lung disease was due to some other source.
Friends of the Columbia Gorge and Sierra Club also successfully sued BNSF Railroad over its coal trains. Every time a train goes through the Gorge it pollutes plant and wildlife habitat, wetlands, tributary streams, and the Columbia River with coal dust and debris. BNSF has accepted to stop transporting coal through the Gorge and in other locations.
Asbestos
Rail workers have been exposed to hazardous chemicals for a long period of time. Other toxic materials remain in the workplace, even though asbestos has been removed. Chemical solvents, like are known to cause asthma and other respiratory ailments. Railroad workers are able to sue their employers to get compensation for their losses.
In one instance one case, a 61-year-old engineer for the locomotive received $2.6 million after a jury verdict found that his work at the railroad caused him to suffer from diesel asthma. The condition caused him to be on medical leave and lose his wages. He also had two back surgeries including the lumbar spine fusion with multilevels. All of this added up to huge medical costs.
He admitted that while working at different railways he was exposed to diesel exhaust fumes strong smells silica dust particles chemicals and spray paints, black smoke, welding, motor grease, and engine oil. The chest tightened up and his throat hurt. He also had trouble swallowing. He suffered from allergies and bronchitis, too.
The railroads successfully argued the release of the plaintiff in 1996 should not be barred from his new lawsuit because he was aware of the dangers of exposure to asbestos. Hughes Law Offices argued that the statute should be tolled until the plaintiff is diagnosed with cancer, to allow him time to seek medical care and determine if his disease is linked to his work.
Poor Ventilation
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with lung cancer, lung diseases, mesothelioma or any other form of cancer that may be caused by working in the railroad industry, you might have the right to bring an action under FELA against the corporation who employed you. FELA lawsuits can provide compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact a Houston FELA attorney today to discuss your case.
A jury has awarded an ex- Conrail engineer $2.6 million in his occupational health trial after concluding that the retiree's asthma-related illness was the result of his frequent exposure to diesel exhaust fumes as he working on rail yards to work with locomotives. The lawyers for the plaintiffs argued that railroads failed to prevent exposure by not installing adequate ventilation in the cabs of locomotives.
Railroad workers are exposed to toxic chemicals, as well as diesel fumes. Asbestos, benzene and other carcinogens can be found in railroad maintenance and construction materials. These toxic materials can lead to many kinds of cancers and serious health problems, such as asthma.
A Houston FELA attorney can help you bring an employer to account for their negligence If you suffer from asthma resulting from your railway work, or if a loved one has been diagnosed with a cancer that may be related to the railroad industry. By contacting Norfolk Southern Railway lawsuit as soon as you can, you can maximize your chances of receiving the financial compensation that you are entitled to for your pain and losses.