Railroad Lawsuit - Leukemia Caused by Benzene
A railroad worker who contracted leukemia after exposure to toxic chemicals was awarded $7.5 million in a jury verdict. He worked for two railroad companies and was exposed to Benzene, which is a known carcinogen.
The plaintiff's job required him manage creosote-coated equipment and ties. He claimed that the chemical was frequently 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 that is found in diesel exhaust that railroad workers are exposed to regularly. union pacific railroad lawsuit to benzene can be linked to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and Hodgkin's Lymphoma and acute leukemia among other blood cancers.
Creosote, diesel exhaust, and other carcinogens are typical exposures for railway workers. Workers' compensation might pay for some losses and expenses however, it does not cover all. A benzene lawsuit against a railroad may aid plaintiffs in recovering damages not covered by workers compensation.
The widow of railroad worker John Thompson recently won a settlement involving benzene for wrongful deaths against his employer. Her husband worked as maintenance of ways employee for the Chicago and North Western Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad between 1976 between 1976 and 2008. He was continuously exposed to a variety of petroleum solvents, including benzene-laden creosote, naphtha distillates of coal, carbolineum, and paint strippers. Throughout his career, John suffered from multiple forms of cancer, including one type of leukemia known as myelodysplastic syndrome. He passed away in November 2009 of this condition. The settlement that was awarded by the jury was $7 million. The amount is a large part of his medical expenses as well as the loss of income and pain and suffering.
Creosote
Creosote contains a number of chemicals, such as dioxin, pentachlorophenol and polycyclic hydrocarbons. Exposure to the chemical vapors could cause irritation to the respiratory tract. cancer lawsuit -term exposure to creosote has been linked with skin cancer and an illness similar in nature to acute myeloid lymphoma.
Creosote gets into the body through the lungs, as air pollution, through the stomach and intestines, either by eating food that is contaminated or drinking contaminated water or through contact with the skin. It is quickly absorbed through the skin. The exposure can cause damage to the liver, kidneys the gastrointestinal tract, and the central nervous system. The toxic mix can be absorbed via the eye and cause a range of ailments.
Railroad workers are exposed many hazardous chemicals at their workplaces. If they get injured by these toxic chemicals, they deserve compensation from their employer. Contact our railroad injury lawyers today to discuss your case.
The small Florida town of Hull was once home to a railroad company that treated wood using coal-tar creosote to preserve, waterproof and insectproof wooden railroad ties. When the company was acquired by CSX several years ago, the chemicals spread to contaminate the property. Residents are suing CSX for contaminating their homes as well as drinking water. EPA Administrator Regan visited the area to get more information about the situation. Residents say that the contaminated drinking waters close to the UPRR facility are causing leukemia in children as well as other health issues.
Asbestos
The use of asbestos to create railroad materials was commonplace over the decades. Asbestos dust was a threat for railroad workers who worked near steam trains and in repair shops. These asbestos fibers are typically transported home by workers wearing their clothes and hair. Their families are exposed to the deadly material.
Despite the dangers that come with asbestos exposure, railroad companies have been ignoring or denying this for many years. Railroad workers who were diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer later in life were not given adequate compensation from their employers.
Asbestos lawsuits are distinct from other claims for workers' compensation because of their complexities. Railroad workers may be able claim compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). FELA is an alternative to traditional workers' compensation laws. FELA permits railroad employees suffering from asbestos-related ailments to file a claim in the event that they can prove their employer's negligence is the cause of their injuries.
union pacific railroad lawsuit in the case assert that the railroad had contaminated Fifth Ward with dangerous chemicals, and failed to clean it up. The residents of the community that lived in the area at the time of the contamination suffered from lung and throat cancers, asthma, and other respiratory diseases. The contamination also led to a loss in property value.
Lead
Rail workers can be exposed diverse carcinogenic substances, fumes, and chemicals. These toxic chemicals can trigger numerous debilitating, fatal ailments for workers, including leukemia. Many of these exposures result of negligence on the part of railroad workers.
Railroad workers are often exposed to diesel exhaust, welding fumes asbestos, silica, and asbestos among other toxins. These exposures may lead to lung cancer bladder and esophageal carcinomas, kidney cancer, and other types of leukemia.
Exposure to benzene can be a primary cause of leukemia as well as other bone-marrow diseases and blood diseases. Benzene is a colorless, liquid that is flammable and can evaporate into the air. It is used in various industrial processes, and it is found in low concentrations in the air. It is also found in gasoline and other products. Exposure to benzene in particular, when inhaled or consumed, could have serious health consequences.
Contact Napoli Shkolnik to receive a free assessment of your case if you worked on a train or a railroad and were diagnosed with a serious disease such as leukemia because of the negligence of your employer. We will help you recover the compensation you deserve for medical treatment or lost income, as well as other damages. Our lawyers are committed to helping Texans who have been injured.