Missouri Railroad Cancer Lawyer | Toxic Exposure

Missouri Railroad Cancer Lawsuit

Thousands of former Missouri railroad workers have fallen ill and suffered injuries due to unsafe and toxic workplaces. Many victims of occupational cancers have filed claims against former employers and reached settlements to ensure financial stability for their families.

The Link Between Railroad Diesel Exposure and Cancer

Studies have determined that many railroad workers have had an increased risk of lung cancer, primarily due to chronic diesel fuel exposure. Many railroad workers have faced acute and chronic workplace exposure at rail yards, and have had little health safety training. As a result, many workers develop cancers linked to exposure to diesel exhaust, creosote, silica, asbestos and benzene. Many of the related medical conditions include the following:

• Lung Cancer
• Bladder Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer
• Nasopharyngeal Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Kidney Cancer
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
• Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Multiple Myeloma
• Aplastic Anemia
• COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
• Emphysema
• RADS (Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome)
• Interstitial Lung Disease
• Pulmonary Fibrosis

What Can You Recover in Railroad Workers Cancer Settlements?

Every case is unique and everyone’s work site history is different, so each case will have a result that is meant to be commensurate with your particular experience. With that said, our attorneys will fight on your behalf for the following damages:

• Lost Wages: when employees are forced to miss work due to an illness or injury related to toxic exposure, an employers should be held accountable for rightful compensation. Workers can file for the recovery of past, present and future lost earnings in the event that an individual cannot return to the workplace after a cancer recovery.
• Medical Expenses: Missouri railroad workers who fall ill due to occupational toxic exposure should have all medical costs covered now and into the future. If basic insurance does not cover 100 percent of a medical bill, individuals will need further compensation from an employer. All costs related to treatments, surgeries, consultations, rehab programs, and medications should be covered.
• Non-material damages: our lawyers also negotiate for damages linked to pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of quality of life and loss of companionship.

The Highest Railroad Workers Cancer Risks

Studies show that the highest health risks are generally concentrated with workers who spent a great deal of time in small, poorly ventilated workshops. Many welders, pipefitters, electricians, maintenance staff, mechanics and machinists were working long hours in small rooms and roundhouses with almost zero fresh air, particularly in winter months when doors were regularly closed. In these spaces, they may have inhaled large quantities of asbestos dust, welding fumes, diesel fuel exhaust, degreasing agents, machine cleaners and other solvents.

Conductors, engineers, carmen, trackmen, and signal operators were also at high risk for toxic exposure. Essentially, almost anyone in the yard who could smell diesel in the air was likely at risk of unsafe exposure.

After a cancer diagnosis, former Missouri railroad workers may be eligible for compensation under the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). Workers’ compensation may be considered, but to maximize a payout and avoid competing compensation pay, individuals should contact a railroad cancer attorney.