Bladder Cancer and the Railroad

If a family member is dealing with the emotional trauma of a cancer diagnosis, it’s easy to ignore financial and legal issues. A skilled railroad injury lawyer can provide legal advice to ensure the future of your loved family members.

Railroad workers are often exposed by hazardous chemicals which can increase the risk of developing certain ailments, including bladder cancer. A Bnsf railway asthma bnsf railway pulmonary fibrosis bladder cancer attorney can review your situation and determine if you qualify to receive compensation under the Federal Employees’ Liability Act (FELA).

Exposition to hazardous chemicals at work

Railroad workers are exposed to a variety of harmful chemicals such as diesel exhaust, welding fumes and herbicides. These chemicals can be breathed in, ingested or absorbed through the skin. This exposure can lead to numerous long-term health issues which include cancers of prostate, lungs, and bladder.

The Federal Employers Liability Act allows railroad workers who have been injured by toxic chemical exposures to sue their employers. Toxic fumes found in the cabs of locomotives, rail yards and shops can be particularly hazardous to workers since they are frequently exposed to these fumes for years or decades.

These toxic chemicals can cause many symptoms, including eye irritation, nausea and in some instances respiratory ailments like asthma. These chemicals are also linked to cancers of the liver and lungs.

The chemical Benzene can pose a threat to railway workers. This chemical is accidentally released when diesel fuel is burned. In a railroad station where trains are scheduled to depart and arrive daily, benzene can be more easily breathed in because it doesn’t dissipate within a closed space.

These claims are hard to prove, despite the obvious connection between exposure to railroads to harmful chemicals and bladder cancer. Railroads with deep pockets hire teams of experts who will assert that their employees weren’t harmed. Most often, these experts say that the toxins ingested by railroad workers were not more harmful than those suffered by pedestrians walking down city streets.

Secondhand Smoke

Cigarette smoke is also known as secondhand smoke or tobacco smoke. It is a poisonous substance that is a source of many well-known cancer-causing agents. This includes benzene, arsenic and cadmium – all of which are believed to be cancerous. Railroad workers who work in enclosed locomotive cabs may be exposed to a mix of diesel exhaust and ETS which is an established cause of lung cancer and other health issues. These exposures may lead to bladder cancer. ETS/diesel fume exposure may also cause asthma and other respiratory ailments.

FELA

Railroad workers are faced with a variety of exposures such as welding fumes and diesel exhaust, chemicals to kill weeds and silica dust that is emitted from gravel rail ties. These harmful exposures can cause lung and heart illnesses, as well as other health issues. A knowledgeable attorney could help a railroad worker establish that certain working conditions contributed to their diagnosis and build an exhaustive FELA claim.

Railroad companies typically do not take the necessary precautions to shield their employees from these harmful chemicals. A machinist, for example could be required to work in train yards or on trains, but without protection against diesel exhaust. Chemical exposures are extremely dangerous and could lead to a range of long-term illness, including bladder cancer.

The Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA gives railroad workers the right to file suit against employers for injuries. However, it is essential that injured railroad workers contacts a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible due to a three year time limit for filing suit.

Sadly, a handful of railroad employees have been taken advantage of by “FELA specialists” who promote their services on a national level, claiming to be experts in bringing cases against railroads. Sadly, these so-called specialists have led to losing their clients to court and set negative precedents for future cases.

Recoverable Damages

While the technology advancements and safety measures that have occurred in the railroad industry have made it much safer for workers, a lot of the harmful chemicals and carcinogenic substances that were frequently used in the railroad industry are still able to cause serious harm to the health of workers. A knowledgeable lawyer for railroad cancer can assist a worker injured file a successful claim for compensation to mitigate the irreparable negative effects of these exposures.

A former bnsf railway aml employee identified as Roddy York was diagnosed with bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Roddy York’s cancer was traced to an occupational exposure that lasted for a long time. This included diesel exhaust as well as asbestos. York was also exposed to various solvents and bnsf railway asthma degreasers while working on railcars and locomotives. He also had to deal with creosote which is a toxic substance linked to cancer.

In his lawsuit against bnsf railway interstitial lung disease, York claimed that his exposure to toxic chemicals caused him to develop bladder cancer. He also claimed that exposure to chemicals led to microscopic hematuria. To prove his claims, he enlisted two experts. Both of his expert witnesses were disqualified however, because the court decided that they didn’t meet the Daubert standard for admissibility.

In the final analysis the case was dismissed. FELA claim was dismissed. To be able to claim damages under FELA the plaintiff must have been employed by a bnsf railway colon cancer company at some point in their career. They also have to be able to prove that any injuries or illness they have suffered are related to their work. If you have been diagnosed with a specific type of cancer and believe that it’s related to your work in the railroad industry, a seasoned bnsf railway myelodysplastic syndrome railway bladder cancer attorney can help you seek compensation for your loss.