FELA Lawsuits - Why You Should File a Railroad LawsuitThe Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA) allows current, former and retired railroad employees the right to sue their employer when they develop cancer or another chronic illness from on-the-job exposure to benzene (creosote), benzene carcinogens like diesel fumes, and other. Call for a free consultation with a knowledgeable railroad attorney today.FELA LawsuitsEvery day railroads transport people, products, and services across the nation. It takes a large number of railroad workers to run and manage these huge systems. Despite advances in technology, the work of a railroad worker is still incredibly dangerous. As such, the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) was enacted to safeguard railroad workers who have been injured.Unlike workers' compensation, which is a no-fault insurance system, claimants under FELA must demonstrate that their railroad's employer was negligent to receive a payment. This is usually accomplished by showing that the railroad's conduct was in violation of the federal standard, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations, Boiler Inspection Act or Safety Appliance Act.Negligence is generally easier to prove in FELA lawsuits than in other types of personal injury claims or workers' comp cases. This is due to the pure relative fault criterion, which permits workers to be awarded damages regardless of whether they caused their injuries.The attorneys at Shaw Cowart have extensive experience in FELA claims and know how to evaluate the evidence in these cases. It is essential to retain a lawyer as soon as you can following your injury since the deadline for filing an FELA claims is limited. This allows us time to gather documents, statements, and other evidence. Contact us to schedule one-on-one sessions with an attorney experienced in railroad litigation today.Exposure to carcinogensRailroad workers are at risk of contracting illnesses as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals. Railroad workers have been exposed for a long time to welding fumes and diesel fumes. They are also exposed to asbestos, lead silica, creosote, and creosote. This is why these chemicals can cause cancer and other diseases among railroad workers. If a past or current railroad employee is suffering from an illness that is directly linked to the chemicals that they were exposed to during their work and is able to file an FELA suit.Many studies have shown that railroad employees tend to suffer from a higher incidence of cancer than people in other jobs. Some of the most common cancers among railroad workers include lung, esophageal and throat cancers as well as basal-cell carcinomas of the head and neck.One of the most common carcinogens that railway workers are exposed to is benzene. It is a colorless gas with a pleasant odor. It was banned in the United States more than 20 years ago, yet it is present in crude oil, gasoline and diesel exhaust. It is also a component of some degreasers and solvents. Latonya Paige is suing BNSF and the City of Houston and Texas after her nephew passed away from leukemia. The suit claims that the railroad and the city contaminated the neighborhood with toxic chemicals that came from the railroad's rail yard. Giles lived two blocks away from the railyard and creosote-treatment site.The signs of CancerRailroad transportation is critical to the American economy. The railroads in America transport 30 million passengers each year and 1.6 billion tonnes of freight. This includes food, lumber and crude oil, grain as along with vehicles chemical and metal ore. A FELA injury lawyer can assist you in filing a claim against your employer.One former Union Pacific employee claims that the company's negligence led to his basal cell cancer, a type of skin cancer. He claims that exposure to sunlight and creosote infused railroad connections between 1968 and 2009 caused the condition. He also claims that he was not receive the necessary safety equipment to protect oneself from the dangers of work.LaTonya Paige, a third plaintiff claims that her breast cancer was caused by her work at an Union Pacific rail yard. The Houston resident claimed she first noticed an abnormal lump in her breast in the year 2016. The mass was found to be malignant when doctors removed it. The cancer has expanded to her lymph nodes, lungs, the esophagus, and her liver.The Houston mayor has requested the Biden administration to seek penalties and orders for the cleanup of a Union Pacific site in his city. The site was used to store wooden railroad tie treated with coal tar as well as other toxic chemical compounds until the 1980s. A study released in January by Texas health officials linked the area to clusters of acute myeloidleukemia colon, bladder, lung and rectal cancers, as well as Rheumatoid Arthritis.The symptoms of other illnessesRailroad workers face a myriad of health risks, and this is especially true for those who are exposed to chemicals on a regular basis. The Federal Employers Liability Act allows railway workers to seek compensation in the event that their employer violates the law. Chaffin Luhana is committed to ensuring that victims receive complete compensation they deserve.Studies show that workers in the railroad industry are more likely to develop various types of cancer. Workers are exposed to harmful chemicals, whether they work inside locomotives or in yards. For  Esophageal cancer lawsuit , a study shows that railroad workers exposed to diesel exhaust were more likely to suffer from lung cancer. Another chemical that has been linked to cancer in railroad workers is benzene, that is found in a variety of solvents and degreasers used by railroad companies. It is also present in diesel exhaust and has been proven to cause non Hodgkin lymphoma in railroad workers.In September an indictment, a jury handed $7.5 million to the railroad worker who was diagnosed with leukemia. The plaintiff worked for Chicago and North Western Railroad, then for Union Pacific Railroad Company, for many years. He claimed that he did not wear protective equipment when installing railroad ties soaked in creosote. He also claimed that he was exposed degreasing solvents, as well as lead. He had myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), which eventually led to acute myeloid leukemia.