Railroad work has always been physically demanding, but for generations, the most dangerous part of the job wasn’t the heavy lifting or the moving of equipment. It was the air. Workers spent decades breathing diesel exhaust, handling asbestos-lined components, scraping benzene-based solvents, and walking around creosote-treated ties without knowing what those exposures were doing inside their bodies. The illnesses they […]
The Cancers Railroad Workers Are Most at Risk For
Can Railroad Workers Sue for Cancer If They Smoked?
When John, a long-time railroad worker, was diagnosed with lung cancer, his world turned upside down. He had spent decades working around trains, rail yards, and railroad equipment—but he’d also smoked for many years. Now, faced with this frightening diagnosis, he couldn’t help but wonder: Was it just the cigarettes? Or could it have been something else, like asbestos? His […]
What Starts the Ticking of the FELA Statute of Limitations Clock?
Note: This information on how personal injury attorneys handle cancer cases involving rail employees is adapted from railroad injury/FELA attorney Rick Shapiro’s July 2011 invited lecture to the American Association for Justice Railroad Law Section. Here, he shares his expertise on how the FELA statute of limitations affects occupational disease and wrongful death lawsuits for rail workers who developed cancers […]
Cancers, Leukemia, Asthma, and COPD Caused By Diesel Exhaust Fumes
In recent years, a spotlight has been placed on the dangers of asbestos and the health risks many railroad workers like conductors, trainmen, and switchmen (to name a few) were exposed to for decades while working for big railroads like CSX and Norfolk Southern. However, a serious health risk that does not get as much attention but can be just […]
What Does FELA Cover?
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA) is a crucial federal law enacted in 1908 in the United States. FELA serves as a vital legal framework that protects the rights and interests of railroad workers, providing them with compensation and legal recourse in cases of injury or illness resulting from their work. This act was a significant milestone in workers’ rights, […]
Railroad Workers High Risk of Mesothelioma from Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that usually affects the protective lining of the lungs or abdomen. Inhaling or swallowing airborne asbestos is the number one cause of mesothelioma over a long period of time. People who have been diagnosed with this form of cancer should contact an experienced Virginia railroad injury attorney to explore what legal options they may have. […]
Do I Have to See the Company Doctor for My Railroad Injury?
When you are injured during your employment as a railroad worker, the first thing you need to do is see a doctor. Since many workers are unfamiliar with the distinctions between workers’ comp and the Federal Employers’ Liability Act they assume that, like workers’ compensation, you can only visit a doctor who has been approved by the rail company. This […]
What Hazardous Chemical Solvents Are Railroad Workers Commonly Exposed To?
Railroads are hazardous working environments. Every day, employees are in danger of being seriously injured by derailments, being struck by trains, using poorly maintained equipment, and slip-and-falls. Those who are employed by major railway companies like Union Pacific, CSX, or Norfolk Southern are also routinely exposed to toxic chemicals and substances that can cause permanent damage to their health and […]
What Types of Injuries Does FELA Cover?
In 1908, the United States Congress enacted the Federal Employers Liability Act. The goal was to lessen the atrocious number of fatalities and injuries that were taking place within the railroad industry. FELA was intended to protect railway employees, force rail companies to implement safety measures to protect their workers, and compensate workers who were injured on the job. Railroad […]
Factors That Could Impact Your Railroad Cancer Settlement
Under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act, any railway worker who is diagnosed with an illness resulting from workplace exposure is eligible to file a lawsuit against their employer. According to FELA, railway employees are entitled to recover compensation for an occupational illness, such as cancer, if they can prove that it, in any measure, was caused by the rail company’s […]