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 railroads and was exposed to Benzene, which is a known carcinogen.
The plaintiff's job required him handle creosote-coated ties and equipment. He claimed that the chemical was often covering his entire body from head to toe.
Benzene
Benzene, among the many harmful chemicals that can cause cancer, is a carcinogen. It is a carcinogen that is found in diesel exhaust fumes, which railroad workers are frequently exposed to. Exposure to benzene is associated to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) as well as Hodgkin's lymphoma and acute leukemia along with other blood cancers.
Railroad workers are often exposed to a variety of carcinogens while working on the job, including creosote and diesel exhaust. While a majority of railway workers receive workers' compensation, the benefits may not cover all of a victim's expenses and losses. A benzene suit against a railroad may aid plaintiffs in recovering damages that aren't covered by workers' compensation.
The widow of railroad worker John Thompson recently won a benzene wrongful death settlement against his employer. John Thompson was an employee of maintenance of ways for the Chicago and North Western Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad between 1976 and 2008. He was continuously exposed to a variety of petroleum solvents that included benzene-laden creosote naphtha, coal tar distillates carbolineum, as well as paint strippers. John suffered from various cancers including myelodysplastic lukemia during his career. He died in November 2009 from this condition. The settlement awarded by the jury was $7 million. This amount covers a substantial portion of his medical expenses including lost income, pain and suffering.
Creosote
Creosote has a variety of chemicals, including dioxin pentachlorophenol and polycyclic halocarbons. Exposure to the vapors of the chemicals can cause irritation to the respiratory tract. Creosote exposure for long periods of time has been linked with skin cancer and an illness similar in its nature to acute myeloid lymphoma.
Creosote is absorbed into the body via lungs as air pollution, through the stomach and intestines through drinking or eating food that has been contaminated, water that is contaminated or by contact with the skin. It is rapidly absorbed through the skin. Exposure to this mixture may cause damage to the kidneys, liver and central nervous system. The toxic mix is taken up through the eyes and may lead to a range of ailments.
Railroad workers are exposed to many hazardous chemicals at their work environments. If they suffer injuries from these toxic substances, 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 rail company that treated wood using coal-tar creosote in order to preserve, waterproof and insect-proof wooden railroad ties. When CSX purchased the company a few years ago the chemicals spread and contaminated the land around. Residents are now suing CSX over the contamination of their drinking water and homes. Regan the EPA Administrator, toured the area in order to find out more. Residents claim that drinking water contaminated close to the UPRR facility can cause leukemia in children as well as other health issues.
Asbestos
The use of asbestos for railroad material was common throughout the years. Many railroad employees were exposed to dangerous asbestos dust when they worked in steam trains and around them, or in repair shops. class action lawsuit against railroads are often brought home by workers who wear their clothes and hair. This exposes their families to the harmful substance.
Despite the dangers of asbestos exposure, a lot of railroad companies ignored or denied the potential harm it could cause to workers' health for decades. In the end, many railroad workers who were given an asbestos-related cancer diagnosis later in life weren't given adequate compensation from their employers.
Due to their complexity asbestos lawsuits are different from other workers' compensation claims. Railroad workers might be able to claim compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). FELA is an alternative to traditional laws governing workers' compensation. Railroad employees who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness can file a claim for compensation under FELA provided that they can prove their employer's negligence led to their injury.
The plaintiffs in this lawsuit claim that the railroad contaminated the Fifth Ward area with dangerous chemicals and did not clean up the mess. Those who were living in the community at the time of the contamination been affected by a variety of health issues that include throat and lung cancer asthma, lung cancer, and other respiratory ailments. The contamination also caused a loss in property value.
Lead
Rail workers can be exposed diverse carcinogenic chemicals, fumes and chemicals. These toxic chemicals can cause various debilitating and fatal ailments for workers, including leukemia. A lot of these exposures are a result of negligence on the part of railroad workers.
Railroad workers are often exposed to diesel exhaust, welding fumes asbestos and silica as well as other toxic substances. The exposures could lead to lung cancer bladder and esophageal tumors, kidney cancer, and other forms of leukemia.
One of the main causes of leukemia and other blood and bone marrow conditions is exposure to benzene. Benzene, a non-colorless liquid that is flammable and able to evaporate into air, is a substance that can cause leukemia. It is utilized in a variety industrial processes, and it can be found in small amounts in the surrounding environment. It is also found in gasoline as well as other products. The exposure to benzene, particularly when inhaled or consumed could have serious health consequences.
Contact Napoli Shkolnik to receive a free review of your case if you worked on a train or railroad and then contracted a serious illness like leukemia as a result of the negligence of your employer. We will help you receive compensation for medical expenses, lost income and other damages. Our lawyers are knowledgeable and dedicated to helping Texans who have been wronged or injured.