Unfortunately, railroad workers are known to be exposed to far more asbestos, diesel exhaust, solvents, and other toxic substances during their short time on the railroad than most other individuals will be in their entire lives. Such excessive exposure has been closely linked to serious illnesses, and equally as common, cancer. Even though you may have been aware of the risks in taking up this occupation, this does not mean that you deserve to have contracted such a horrible, life-threatening disease. So please, read on to discover whether you can sue your railroad company employer after receiving a cancer diagnosis and how one of the seasoned FELA lawyers at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP can help work on your case against them.
How do I know if my railroad work caused my cancer?
To reiterate, there is a wide range of hazardous substances on the railroad, many of which are known carcinogens. With that, modern-day occupational health studies have now confirmed that such carcinogens have a direct link to several forms of cancer. For example, as a locomotive engineer, you may frequently breathe in diesel exhaust, which contains benzene and formaldehyde, which can primarily cause lung cancer. Also, types of cancer commonly associated with railroad work are bladder cancer, leukemia, mesothelioma, throat, esophageal, and stomach cancers, and kidney and liver cancers.
If you have been diagnosed with any of these cancer types, you may consult with your treating oncologist, other medical experts, and other occupational health experts. With their provided professional opinions and testimonies, you may determine the likelihood that you contracted it from your time on the railroad. If you have reason to believe this is true, you may feel even more empowered to file a Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) claim against your negligent railroad company employer.
Can I sue my railroad employer after my cancer diagnosis?
Even though there is the assumption of risk when signing up for dangerous railroad work, your employer still owes you a duty of care in ensuring that the workplace is as safe as possible. This means supplying you with protective gear so you do not breathe in or come into physical contact with these known harmful carcinogens. Or, providing you with proper training for how to handle these hazardous substances. If you do not think these safety precautions were put into place during your time on the railroad, and that your employer failed to meet the standard of care for occupational health, you may be right to sue them.
When it comes to your FELA case, you should not settle for anything less than spectacular legal representation. So please hire us to help with your civil claim proceedings. One of the competent FELA lawyers at Hildebrand McLeod & Nelson LLP looks forward to working with you.
