Railroad Lawsuit - Leukemia Caused by Benzene
A jury awarded $7.5m to a railroad worker who developed leukemia after being exposed to toxic chemicals. He worked for two different railroad companies and was exposed to Benzene which is carcinogen.
The plaintiff's work required him to deal with creosote coated ties and other equipment. He claimed that the chemical was often covering his entire body from head to toe.
Benzene
The chemical Benzene is one of the many harmful chemicals that can cause cancer is a carcinogen. It is a carcinogen and is found in diesel fumes/exhaust that railroad workers are exposed to regularly. The exposure to benzene is linked to myelodysplastic disorder (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and Hodgkin lymphoma, among other blood cancers.
Creosote and diesel exhaust as well as other carcinogens are all common exposures for railway workers. While many railway workers are covered by workers' compensation, these benefits may not cover all the expenses and losses incurred by a victim. A benzene lawsuit against a railroad can aid plaintiffs in recovering the costs that are not covered by workers' compensation.
The wife of railroad worker John Thompson recently won a settlement involving benzene for wrongful deaths against his employer. Her husband worked as an employee in maintenance of ways for the Chicago and North Western Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad between 1976 between 1976 and 2008. He was exposed to a variety of petroleum solvents like creosote with benzene in it distilates of coal tar naphtha, paint strippers, and naphtha. John suffered from cancers of different types including myelodysplastic lukemia throughout his career. He died in November 2009 from this illness. The jury awarded him $7 million as settlement. This amount covers a substantial portion of his medical costs as well as lost income and suffering and pain.
Creosote
Several chemicals are found in creosote. These include dioxin, phenols, pentachlorophenol and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Long-term exposure may cause irritation to the respiratory tract. Leukemia-like skin cancers and a similar disease known as acute myeloid leukemia are also linked to long-term creosote exposure.
Creosote enters your body through the lungs via air pollution through the stomach and intestines through eating contaminated food or drinking water that is contaminated or by contact with the skin. It is absorbed rapidly through the skin. The exposure can cause damage to the kidneys, liver as well as the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. The toxic mix can be absorbed via the eye and cause a variety of diseases.
Rail workers are exposed to a range of dangerous chemicals at their workplace. If these harmful substances cause them harm, they should receive compensation from their employers. Contact our railroad injury lawyers today to discuss your case.
Hull A small Florida town, was once home to an old rail company which used coal-tar creosote wood to waterproof and insectproof wooden railroad tie. When the company was bought by CSX several years ago and the chemicals grew, they began to contaminate the property. Residents are suing CSX for contamination of their homes and drinking water. EPA Administrator Regan visited the area to find out more about the situation. Residents claim that contaminated drinking waters close to the UPRR facility can cause leukemia in children and other health issues.
Asbestos
The use of asbestos to create railroad materials was widespread throughout the decades. Many railroad workers were exposed asbestos dust when they worked in steam trains and around or in repair shops. These asbestos fibers are typically transported home by workers wearing their hair and clothing. Their families are exposed to the deadly material.
Despite the risks of asbestos exposure, many railroad companies were unaware or oblivious to the potential harm it could cause to workers' health for decades. As a result, many railroad workers who were given an asbestos cancer diagnosis later in life weren't given the proper compensation from their employers.
Asbestos claims differ from other workers' compensation claims because of their complexities. Railroad workers may be eligible to claim compensation through the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). FELA is a viable alternative to traditional workers' compensation laws. class action lawsuit against norfolk southern railroad who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness are able to file a claim under FELA in the event that they can prove that their employer's negligence caused the injury.
The plaintiffs in this case claim that the railroad contaminated the Fifth Ward area with dangerous chemicals and failed to clean up its aftermath. The residents of the area at the time of the contamination have suffered from a range of health issues such as throat and lung cancer as well as asthma and other respiratory diseases. They also suffered the loss of property value due to the contamination.
Lead
People who work on railroads are susceptible to exposure to numerous carcinogenic substances, chemicals, and fumes. These toxic chemicals can cause various debilitating and fatal diseases for workers, such as leukemia. Many of these exposures are the result of negligence in railroads.
Railroad workers are often exposed to diesel exhaust, welding fumes asbestos, silica and asbestos among other toxic substances. The exposures can lead to a variety of long term health problems including bladder cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer kidney cancer, as well as other forms of leukemia.
The most common cause of leukemia, as well as other blood and bone marrow diseases is exposure to benzene. Benzene, a colorless fluid that is flammable and may evaporate into air, is a substance that can cause leukemia. It is used in a variety of industrial processes and is present in the natural environment at low levels. Benzene is also found in gasoline and a variety of other products. Exposure to benzene when inhaled or consumed, could have serious health consequences.
Contact Napoli Shkolnik to receive a free evaluation of your case when you worked in a train or railway and contracted a serious illness like leukemia due to the negligence of your employer. We can assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve for medical treatment as well as lost income and other damages. Our lawyers are dedicated to helping Texans who have been injured.