You may risk getting physically hurt while performing your railroad job. But even when you retire, you may still have a chance of developing mesothelioma and becoming physically ill decades later. You may be curious how this comes about when you have likely not stepped foot on a railroad in seemingly forever. For this, please read on to discover why you might receive a mesothelioma diagnosis after your railroad work and how one of the experienced FELA lawyers at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP can help you deal with this aftermath as effectively as possible.
What does a mesothelioma diagnosis entail?
From a medical standpoint, mesothelioma is a rare yet aggressive type of cancer that develops in the mesothelium. This is essentially the protective lining that covers many of your body’s internal organs. Namely, the most common type is pleural mesothelioma, which is in the protective lining of your lungs and chest cavity. Sadly, this cancer is most closely associated with inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers.
Can I get mesothelioma from my past railroad work?
You may know that the railroad industry banned asbestos in its daily operations in the 1970s. You may not have even worked in this profession remotely close to this decade. However, most unfortunately, you may still have been severely exposed to this harmful substance. It may have been present within older locomotive pipe insulations and railroad shops. Also, its dust particles may have lingered on railroad brake shoes and vermiculite (i.e., a naturally occurring mineral used in insulation and potting soil) carried in railcars and leaking in railroad yards.
If not mesothelioma, you may have contracted a similar disease or cancer type, such as esophageal cancer, lung cancer, chronic obstructive respiratory disease, pulmonary fibrosis, etc. Your railroad employer may have ultimately failed you in ensuring your workplace was clear of asbestos and other harmful substances. Or, at the very least, they may have neglected to provide the proper safety equipment and training as a precautionary measure for potential asbestos exposure.
What is the deadline for my FELA claim for my mesothelioma?
If you can relate to what this blog has explained thus far, you may have a valid Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claim. This claim may hold your at-fault railroad employer accountable for paying for your medical bills and other damages associated with your mesothelioma diagnosis. For this, the statute of limitations is three years. But rest assured, this may mean three years from the date of your mesothelioma diagnosis, rather than three years from your retirement from the railroad.
After all, the American Cancer Society even notes that mesothelioma related to asbestos exposure may take anywhere from 20 to 50 years to develop and be accurately diagnosed. In other words, the risk of eventually contracting this cancer may last your entire lifetime. But still, you must be proactive in getting the right medical attention to address your experienced signs and symptoms, so that you receive a diagnosis within a reasonable timeframe for the sake of your physical health and legal claim.
The first step toward preparing yourself for this legal action is to retain the services of one of the skilled FELA lawyers. Look no further than Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP.
