Railroad Lawsuit - Leukemia Caused by Benzene
A jury has awarded $7.5m to an employee of a railroad who contracted leukemia after exposure to toxic chemicals. He worked for two railroad companies and was exposed to Benzene, which is a carcinogen that has been identified.
The plaintiff's job required him to work with creosote-coated ties and equipment. He claimed that the chemical was frequently covering him from head to toe.
Benzene
The chemical Benzene is among many dangerous chemicals found to cause cancer. It is a carcinogen, and is found in diesel exhaust and fumes, which railroad workers are exposed to frequently. The exposure to benzene is associated with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and Hodgkin lymphoma, in addition to other blood cancers.
Railroad workers are typically exposed to a variety of carcinogens when on the job, such as creosote and diesel exhaust. While a majority of railway workers receive workers' compensation, these benefits might not cover all of the costs and losses of a victim. A benzene suit against a railroad can help plaintiffs recover damages that aren't covered by workers' compensation.
The wife of railroad worker John Thompson won a benzene settlement against his employer. Her husband was a maintenance employee who worked for the Chicago and North Western Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad from 1976 until 2008. He was exposed to a variety of petroleum solvents, including creosote containing benzene distilates of coal tar naphtha, paint strippers, and naphtha. During his career, John suffered from multiple types of cancer, including a type of leukemia called myelodysplastic syndrome. He died from this illness in November 2009. The jury awarded him $7 million as settlement. The amount is a large portion of his medical costs as well as lost income and pain and suffering.
Creosote
Creosote contains a number of chemicals, including dioxin, pentachlorophenol as well as polycyclic hydrocarbons. Long-term exposure to creosote can cause irritation to the respiratory tract. Long-term exposure to creosote has been linked with skin cancer and an illness similar 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 unclean water or coming into contact with the skin. It is quickly absorbed by the skin. Exposure to it can cause damage the liver, kidneys as well as the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. The toxic mixture may be absorbed through the eye and can cause a variety of diseases.
Railroad workers are exposed many dangerous chemicals in their workplaces. If they suffer injuries from these toxic substances, they are entitled to compensation from their employer. Contact our dedicated railroad injury lawyers to discuss your case.
Hull the town, which is a tiny Florida town, was once home to an old rail company that used coal-tar creosote wood to make it waterproof and insectproof railroad ties made of wood. When CSX purchased the company several years ago the chemicals grew and polluted the surrounding land. 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 say that the drinking water sources that are contaminated near the UPRR facility can cause leukemia in children as well as other health issues.
Asbestos
The use of asbestos for railroad materials was common throughout the years. Asbestos dust was a danger for railroad workers who worked around steam trains and in repair shops. The asbestos dust was often taken home with the workers' clothing and hair, exposing their loved ones to the dangerous material.
Despite the dangers of exposure to asbestos, many railroad companies did not recognize or even deny the possibility of harm to workers' health for decades. Railroad workers who were diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer later in life didn't receive adequate compensation from their employer.
Because of their complexity, asbestos lawsuits are different from other workers' comp claims. Railroad workers could seek compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). FELA is a viable alternative to traditional workers' compensation laws. Railroad workers who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness can file a claim under FELA provided that they can prove that their employer's negligence was the cause of their injury.
The plaintiffs in this case claim that the railroad contaminated the Fifth Ward area with dangerous chemicals and failed to remove the traces of the contamination. The residents of the community that lived in the area during the time of the contamination suffered from throat and lung cancers, asthma, and other respiratory diseases. They also were impacted by the loss of property value because of the contamination.
Lead
Workers on railroads are exposed to a variety of carcinogenic substances, chemicals, and fumes. These toxic chemicals are believed to cause leukemia as well as other fatal illnesses among employees. railroad lawsuit of these exposures result of negligence on the part of railroad workers.
Rail workers are exposed to different toxins including diesel exhaust, welding fumes and asbestos. These exposures can lead to a variety of long term health issues including lung cancer, bladder cancer, esophageal cancer kidney cancer and other forms of leukemia.
Exposure to benzene may be a primary cause of leukemia, and other bone-marrow and blood diseases. The colorless liquid Benzene that is flammable and can evaporate into air, is a substance that can cause leukemia. It is utilized in various industrial processes, and it is present in low amounts in the natural environment. It is also found in gasoline and other products. Exposure to benzene could have adverse effects on your body, particularly if it is inhaled, or ingested.
If you've worked on a train or in the railroad industry and have developed a serious disease such as leukemia, as a result of negligence on the part of your employer and/or negligence, you should contact Napoli Shkolnik for a free case review. We will help you receive compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages. Our attorneys are passionate about helping Texans who have been injured.
