Railroad Lawsuits and Asthma
Rail workers are frequently exposed to harmful chemicals and fumes like silica and asbestos. These exposures can cause respiratory illnesses like asthma.
Fortunately, victims could be eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. A reputable railroad lawsuit asthma lawyer can help. Find out more about some examples of successful verdicts and settlements.
Diesel Exhaust
Since trains are powered by diesel fuel, railroad employees are exposed to a variety of diesel fumes throughout the day. These fumes contain a mixture of tiny particles of soot, gases, and other toxic chemicals that could cause serious health issues. Exposure to these fumes can contribute to asthma and other lung diseases.
Railroads have known about the dangers of exposure to diesel exhaust for a long time. However cancer lawsuit have failed to take adequate steps to protect their employees. Bladder cancer lawsuit have been diagnosed with respiratory illnesses that are debilitating.
When combined with union pacific railroad lawsuit , like asbestos, silica, and creosote exposure to diesel fumes could lead to the development of life-changing pulmonary diseases, including asthma. These ailments can prevent railroad workers from returning to their jobs and may reduce the quality of their lives.
In one case our attorneys successfully defended an FELA lawsuit filed by a locomotive engineer who claimed he was diagnosed with leukemia, as well as other cancers as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals and diesel fumes while working on railroad equipment. The court granted summary judgement for the railroads in dispute. The court ruled that Plaintiff had not made an appropriate search for information regarding his illness at the time the disease was discovered, and that his claims are barred by time.
Dust
Rail workers are exposed to various dusts, like silica from ballasts as well as coal dust. They could also be exposed to chemical or petroleum fuels. These toxic substances are harmful to health and may cause respiratory ailments like asthma.
Our FELA attorney has assisted many people seek compensation for exposure to these substances. FELA allows workers with certain illnesses to hold employers accountable for not protecting them from unsafe workplaces.
For example, a Montana jury handed down $3.7 million to an engineer from the past who was suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, which is a progressive lung disease that is caused by scarring of the lung tissue. In his FELA claim, it was claimed that inhaling diesel fumes hundreds or perhaps thousands of times contributed to the development and progress of his lung disease. union pacific railroad lawsuit of defense experts failed to convince jurors that locomotive engineer's lung disease was due to another cause.
Similarly, Friends of the Columbia Gorge and Sierra Club successfully filed a lawsuit against BNSF railroad over its coal trains. Each time a train passes the Gorge it pollutes the habitats for wildlife and plants, wetlands, tributary rivers, and the Columbia River. BNSF has announced that it will stop bringing coal in the Gorge, and other locations.
Asbestos
Rail workers have been exposed to dangerous chemical substances for a long time. While asbestos has been removed from the workplace, some toxic materials still remain. Chemical solvents, like, have been known to cause asthma and respiratory diseases. Railroad workers can sue their employers to seek compensation.
In one instance the jury found that a 61-year-old locomotive engineer was suffering from asthma caused by diesel due to his work in the railroad. This illness caused him to be on medical leave and to lose his wages. He also required two back surgeries, including the multi-level lumbar spine fusion all of which added up to a significant amount of medical costs.
He said that while working for different railways he was exposed to exhaust fumes from diesel engines, strong smells, silica dust particles, spray paints and chemical compounds, black smoke as well as welding and engine oil. His chest tightened and his throat hurt. He also had trouble swallowing. He also suffered from allergies and chronic bronchitis.
The railroads successfully argued the releases the plaintiff signed in 1996 should block his new suit because he was aware of the danger at the time he was exposed asbestos. Hughes Law Offices also argued that the statute of limitations should be extended until the plaintiff was diagnosed with cancer to give him the opportunity to seek medical care and determine if his condition was due to his job.
Poor Ventilation
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with lung cancer or lung diseases, mesothelioma or any other type of cancers that may be linked to working in the railroad industry, you may have the right to file an action under FELA against the company that employed you. FELA lawsuits can award compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and suffering and pain. Contact a Houston FELA lawyer today to discuss your case.
A jury handed down $2.6 million to an ex- Conrail engineer in his occupational disease trial after determining the source of his chronic asthma. The jury concluded that his exposure to exhaust fumes from diesel engines was almost all the time while working on locomotives in rail yards. The lawyers for the plaintiffs argued that railroads did not prevent exposure to diesel exhaust by not installing adequate ventilation in the cabs of locomotives.
In addition to the diesel fumes that railroad workers breathe, they frequently come into contact toxic chemicals and other harmful substances during their job. In railroad maintenance and construction material asbestos, benzene, and other carcinogens may be found. Unfortunately, these hazardous substances can cause a myriad of cancers and other serious health conditions, including pulmonary diseases such as asthma.
If you suffer from asthma that arose due to your working on the railroad, or if you have a loved one who has been diagnosed with cancer that may be linked to the rail industry, you should consult a Houston FELA lawyer can help you make your employer accountable for their incompetence. By contacting a seasoned lawyer as soon as you can you will have the best chances of obtaining the financial compensation you deserve for your suffering and losses.