Railroad Lawsuit Mds Explained In Fewer Than 140 Characters

Railroad Lawsuits and Asthma

Rail workers are frequently exposed to harmful fumes and chemicals like silica and asbestos. These exposures can lead to respiratory disorders like asthma.

Fortunately, victims are eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. An asthma attorney for railroad lawsuits can be of assistance. Here are a few examples of settlements that have been successful and verdicts.

Diesel Exhaust

Because trains run on diesel fuel, a majority of railroad employees are exposed to a range of diesel fumes throughout the day. These fumes consist of soot particles, as well as toxic chemicals. Exposure to these fumes may contribute to the development of asthma and other pulmonary illnesses.

Since the beginning of time railroads have been conscious of the dangers posed by diesel exhaust. Many companies have not taken adequate measures to protect their employees. As a result, many railroad workers have been diagnosed with respiratory diseases that are debilitating.

In conjunction with other workplace hazards, like asbestos, silica and creosote, exposure to diesel fumes could result in the development of life-altering lung diseases, including asthma. These conditions can hinder railroad workers from returning back to their work, and could even affect their quality of life.

In one case our attorneys successfully in defending the defense of a FELA lawsuit filed by an engineer on the locomotive who claimed he was diagnosed with leukemia, as well as other cancers because of exposure to toxic chemicals and diesel fumes while working on railroad equipment. The court granted summary judgment for the railroads in question, deciding that Plaintiff did not make an intelligent search for information regarding his illness at the time of diagnosis, and that his claims were barred by time.

Dust

Rail workers are exposed to different dusts, including silica dust from ballast and coal dust. They can also be exposed to chemical or petroleum fuels. These toxic substances can cause harm to one's health and can cause respiratory diseases, such as asthma.

Our FELA attorney has helped many people pursue compensation for exposure to these substances. Fortunately, FELA allows workers who have been diagnosed with certain diseases to hold their employers accountable for their failure to protect them from dangerous work environments.

For instance for instance, a Montana jury gave $3.7 million to an engineer from the past who suffered from the condition known as pulmonary fibrosis. It is a progressive lung disease that is caused due to scarring of the lung tissue. In his FELA claim, the defendant claimed that inhaling diesel fumes hundreds, or perhaps thousands of times contributed to the development and progress of his lung disease. Jurors were not persuaded by the defense experts' testimony that the engineer's lung disease must have some other cause.

Friends of the Columbia Gorge and Sierra Club also successfully filed a lawsuit against BNSF Railroad over its coal trains. Each time a train runs through the Gorge it pollutes the sensitive plant and wildlife habitat, tributary streams, wetlands, and the Columbia River with coal dust and debris. As a result of this lawsuit, BNSF will stop transporting coal through the Gorge and other areas.

Asbestos

Railroad workers have been exposed to hazardous chemicals. While asbestos has been removed from the workplace, some toxic materials still remain. Chemical solvents are known to cause respiratory illnesses and asthma. This is the reason railroad employees may file lawsuits to recover damages from the companies who hired them.

In one case the 61-year-old locomotive engineer received $2.6 million after a jury verdict found that his work at the railroad made him suffer from diesel asthma. The condition caused him to be on medical leave and lose his wages. He also required two back surgeries, including an lumbar spinal fusion that was multi-level all of which added up to considerable medical costs.

He testified that while working at various railways he was continuously exposed to exhaust fumes from diesel engines strong smells silica dust particles chemical compounds and spray paints, black smoke, welding and engine oil. His chest tightened and throat hurt. He also had difficulty swallowing. He also was suffering from allergies and chronic bronchitis.

The railroads prevailed in arguing that the release of the plaintiff in 1996 should not be barred from his new suit because they knew of the risk when he was exposed asbestos. Hughes Law Offices argued that the statute should be tolled until the plaintiff is diagnosed with cancer to allow him to seek medical evaluation and determine whether the illness is connected to his job.

Poor Ventilation

If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung disease or another type of cancer that could be linked to your job in the railway industry, you could be eligible to bring an FELA lawsuit against the company which employed you. FELA lawsuits may provide compensation for medical expenses as well as lost wages, suffering and pain and other damages. Contact a Houston FELA attorney today to discuss your case.

A jury has awarded a former Conrail engineer $2.6 million in his occupational illness trial after determining that the retiree's asthma-related problems were caused by his frequent exposure to diesel exhaust fumes while working on locomotives at rail yards. The lawyers for the plaintiff argued that the railroad was unable to stop this type of exposure by not putting in proper ventilation in the cabs of locomotives.

Railroad workers are exposed toxic chemicals, as well as diesel fumes. Asbestos, benzene, as well as other carcinogens are often found in construction and maintenance materials. These hazardous materials can cause various kinds of cancers and serious health issues like asthma.

A Houston FELA attorney can help you to hold an employer accountable for their negligence if you suffer from asthma due to your railway work, or if a loved one has been diagnosed with a cancer that may be linked to the rail industry. By contacting  mesothelioma lung cancer lawsuit  seasoned attorney as soon as possible you will increase your chances of receiving the financial compensation you deserve for your suffering and losses.