Railroad Cancer Lawsuits

Corpus Christi Injury Attorneys for Injured Railroad Workers

If you developed cancer after working for the railroad, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Cancer devastates entire families, and if it occurs as a result of hazards at the workplace, injured workers and their families may be entitled to financial compensation for medical care, and more.

Conductors, engineers, track maintenance workers, machinists, switchmen, and carmen didn’t go to their job each day knowing that they were putting themselves at risk for cancer. These men and women simply believed that their employers provided them with a job to do, the right equipment to do it, and followed federal guidelines related to hazardous and carcinogenic materials. Yet, railroad cancer lawsuit plaintiffs allege that exposure to benzene, asbestos, heavy metals, solvents, chemicals, and other dangerous substances and materials caused them to develop cancer.

Benzene Cancer Diagnoses in Railroad Workers

Benzene is one of the materials listed in the railroad cancer lawsuits by plaintiffs. Although benzene in its purest form was banned in the United States 20 years ago, it’s still an ingredient in many solvents and degreasers that are commonly used by railroad workers. It’s also a by-product of diesel exhaust. It’s highly toxic and is absorbed through the skin.

Benzene exposure has been linked to an increased risk of:

• Leukemia
• Hodgkin’s disease
• Bone cancer
• Lymphoma
• Bladder cancer
• Myeloma

Benzene is also linked to anemia and can damage the immune system.

Railroad Workers Asbestos Exposure

Although asbestos was severely regulated starting in the 1970s, it was used extensively in the manufacturing of railroad and locomotive parts from the 1930s until that time. The goal was to limit exposure to asbestos because of its link to asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma. However, railroad companies continued to use the previously manufactured parts. In fact, some continue to use the existing parts instead of replacing them.

The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)

The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) gives railroad workers who were diagnosed with cancer the power to file a lawsuit against their employers when cancer may have been caused by exposure to benzene, asbestos, radioactive substances, or another hazardous or carcinogenic material. When a railway business doesn’t provide a safe place to work, they are in violation of FELA. This gives current, previous, and retired employees the right to file a railroad cancer lawsuit and name the company as a defendant.

Plaintiffs Must Prove Negligence

It is important to work with an attorney who has verifiable experience in cases where an employee is made sick because of their work environment. In a railroad cancer lawsuit, you, as the plaintiff, must be able to prove that your employer was negligent.

Some examples of negligence may include:

• Not providing the proper equipment (such as safety suits to handle certain materials)
• Continuing to use locomotive parts manufactured with asbestos
• Not providing the right equipment to minimize your risk of benzene exposure

Although a lawyer cannot reverse a cancer diagnosis, one can help you pursue the compensation that you and your family deserve for your workplace illness. The Bandas Law Firm is here to help. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we provide free case consultations for potential railroad cancer lawsuits.