Emphysema railroad injury Railroad Lawsuits

Long-term exposure to diesel fumes as well as asbestos can lead to serious lung diseases such as Emphysema Railroad Lawsuit. Our FELA lawyers are committed to helping them seek justice.

Our firm successfully represented an engineer of the locomotive from Toledo, Ohio who suffered from laryngeal cancer as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). The jury awarded damages under the Federal Employers Liability Act. The railroad appealed.

Diesel Exhaust

Diesel exhaust is a mix of aerosols, gases and vapours that contains many toxic substances. In addition to diesel soot, it also contains carbon monoxide hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. The fine particles that make up diesel fumes can be breathed which means they can get into the lungs. Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust could cause a variety of health issues. These include breathing difficulty, eye and nose irritation nausea, headaches loss of coordination and, in extreme instances, lung cancer and disease.

Diesel engine exhaust is a source of hundreds of chemicals, including a few known to cause cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer is a division of the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified diesel exhaust as carcinogenic to humans.

The classification of exhaust from diesel engines refers to occupational studies that demonstrate a link between exposure to diesel exhaust fumes and respiratory illness, including lung cancer. Smoking and lifestyle choices related to work, Emphysema railroad Lawsuit for example spending long periods of time in poorly ventilated areas or in enclosed spaces, can worsen these effects.

Diesel engines utilize Diesel Exhaust fluid to reduce emissions from exhaust fumes. It is a mix of water, urea, and other ingredients. Urea is a natural byproduct of the metabolic process that occurs in mammals, and is usually found in urine. During the Diesel Exhaust Fluid manufacturing process, it is mixed with other materials and then heated in a catalytic convertor to produce ammonia and isocyanic acid.

Asbestos

Asbestos, a non-heat-resistant, fire-retardant mineral was often inhaled by railroad workers. It was extensively used for various rail-related equipment, such as locomotives and train cars. As these items degrade and break down, they release tiny asbestos fibers that are released into the air. When these fibers are breathed in, they can cause serious lung diseases, such as asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Despite knowing that asbestos could be harmful to and even kill workers, the railroad companies did nothing to limit the exposure. This is a clear violation of the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).

Asbestos is made of fibers that occur naturally and are resistant to heat. These fibers can remain airborne days after being disturbed. This permits people to breathe in the fibers. Inhaled asbestos fibers can enter deep into the lungs, causing permanent lung damage. Asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases can take years to manifest themselves. They can be confused with other diseases which makes it difficult to detect mesothelioma in its earliest stages.

Compensation is awarded to railroaders who have mesothelioma and other related ailments. They put their lives and energy into a career which was brutally ruined by mesothelioma. It deprived them of the enjoyment of their golden years. The lawyers at Doran & Murphy can help families get the compensation they are entitled to.

Malpractice

Railroad workers can be affected by serious illnesses, such as COPD or Emphysema railroad cancer settlement. If you've been diagnosed with these or other diseases due to your years of work on the railroad, you may be eligible for compensation through an action under FELA. We can assist you in determining whether your claim is a viable one and make a claim on your behalf.

In one FELA case, we obtained the settlement of a railway conductor who was diagnosed with debilitating asthma as well as chronic obstructive lung disease due to decades spent in the cabs on locomotives and breathing in diesel exhaust. The FELA lawsuit claimed the railroad was negligent in exposing him to the toxic particulate.

Many of the chemicals that are employed in railroads are hazardous and cause various illnesses. Despite this, railroad corporations are not accountable for the damage caused by their products. An experienced attorney can review your case and attempt to secure the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to under FELA. Our firm has handled a wide range of railroad-related Emphysema injury settlements claims and will answer all of your questions during a free consultation. Contact us today to make an appointment.

Wrongful Death

If a person dies because of the negligence, mistake or the actions of someone else, the survivors are able to pursue a wrongful-death suit. It's a civil action that is subject to a lower proof standard than a criminal trial. Victims may claim compensation. The family of the deceased can recover economic damages as well as non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, loss of companionship, as well as a portion of the victim's estate.

Some states have specific statutes regarding the types of damages which can be given in a wrongful deaths case. Others leave it more open. Wrongful death claims typically include money for funeral expenses and burial costs along with emotional distress, lost wages and loss of consortium as well as punitive damages.

As we've already mentioned, FELA allows victims of lung diseases and cancers caused by work, such as the obstructive lung disease, to hold railroad corporations responsible. However, sometimes the worst negative health effects aren't evident until 20-30 or even 40 years after a worker has stopped working for the railway.

A large portion of the claims filed under FELA also involve wrongful death suits. The estate of a dead person may bring a wrongful death claim and a survivorship case in order to claim compensation for medical expenses, loss companionship, and other economic or not-economic losses that occurred before the death of the victim.