Multiple Myeloma Caused by Railroad Work

Under FELA railroad workers can claim compensation for injuries. To be successful, the injured worker will have to prove the Railroad Lawsuit Settlements was negligent in causing injury.

The evidence in the trial included the testimony of toxicologist who conducted various studies and relative risk factors to show that Harris's multiple myeloma caused by his exposure to diesel exhaust.

Benzene Exposure

It is linked to a number of hematopoietic tumors that include Acute Myeloid Leukemia(AML), Acute Non-Lymphocytic Leukemia(ANLL) and Multiple Myeloma. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, railroad lawsuit settlements benzene is a Group 1 Carcinogen. This chemical can be found in diesel fumes, and many railway workers are regularly exposed to it.

Additionally, certain railroad workers are also exposed to benzene from cleaning products like Safety-Kleen and CRC. These cleaning products contain a benzene type known as methylbenzene. The methylbenzene converts to dioxin, a chemical when it comes in contact with water. Dioxins are chemicals that can trigger numerous health issues including lung cancer.

Parker Waichman has represented railroad employees in personal injury lawsuits against union pacific railroad against their employers under the FELA. A jury awarded $7.5 million to an ex Chicago and North Western railroad lawsuit settlements employee diagnosed with acute myeloid cancer following years of exposure.

Another case involved a plaintiff diagnosed with multiple myeloma after working as an engineer for railroad signal maintenance for a period of time. The plaintiff claimed that his illness was caused by exposure to diesel exhaust and benzene which he was exposed to while on the job. Prior to the beginning of trial, BNSF filed a motion for summary judgment based upon the idea that plaintiff should have known his cancer was caused by exposure to chemicals and environmental hazards during his union pacific railroad lawsuit employment.

Creosote Exposure

Creosote is a toxic chemical used to preserve wood, has been linked with various cancers, including skin cancer and scrotal carcinoma. This chemical is often a problem for railroad workers who work on the maintenance and repairs of railway ties. The National Toxicology Program reported that those who handled creosote were at a higher risk than the general public of developing lethal forms of cancer.

A recent court case in which a railroad employee sought justice after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma alleges his exposure to diesel exhaust and other environmental hazards caused the cancer. The court ruled that the plaintiff was aware of the potential damage he could sustain because of his job as a railroad worker and could have learned about his condition by conducting an exhaustive search on the internet when the diagnosis came in. He did not take the necessary steps and the case has been deemed time-barred.

In a separate instance, the railroad won its defense verdict in a suit brought in Philadelphia County by an ex-railroad worker. The plaintiff claimed he developed bladder cancer due to the exposure he had to secondhand smoke and other toxic chemicals, like creosote and diesel exhaust.

Parker Waichman has also secured defense verdicts in cases involving different types of cancers such as prostate and lung cancer, brought by other former railroad employees who claimed their cancers were a result of years of exposure to toxic chemicals while working. The firm is ready to review the details of your case and discuss your options.

Asbestos Exposure

Railroad workers may be exposed to asbestos in their work. Workers are exposed to asbestos when they operate railroad ties, fix or install railway gear, or work on railroad ties. Asbestos exposure could cause mesothelioma, lung cancer and other diseases.

In a case filed against CSX Transportation, plaintiff Ronald K. Harris claims that he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma as a result of his work for the railroad. According to the lawsuit, Harris worked for CSX Transportation at its Laredo rail yard on a regular basis. In the process, he inhaled "harmful toxic chemicals, agents, fumes, particles, and substances including but not only diesel exhaust creosote, welding fumes, carbon monoxide, phenols dioxins, and heavy metals."

We successfully represented our clients at the trial of a jury that lasted two weeks, where it was alleged that repetitive lifting and bending as trackmen led to herniated disks in the lumbar region, causing an injury that caused a 25% disability for the rest of his life which resulted in a loss of wage and discomfort and pain. The railroad was not found to be negligent, and the plaintiff was awarded a modest award.

Environmental Exposure

railroad lawsuits workers are exposed a range of chemicals in the environment. This exposure can lead to various health issues including multiple myeloma based on the nature and intensity of the work. Contact Parker Waichman if you or a family member has been diagnosed with myeloma as a result of working on railroads.

In a recent trial a railroad lawsuits employee was awarded $7.5 million by a jury for being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic Symptom (MDS). He filed a lawsuit against two major railroads and claimed that their exposure to diesel exhaust and asbestos caused health issues.

However the railroads subsequently filed an appeal based on summary judgment, which argued that the plaintiff was aware of most important facts and potential causes of his injury at the time of his diagnosis. The court ruled in favor of the railroads' motion, concluding that the plaintiff failed to make a reasonably diligent inquiry into whether his condition was connected to his employment at a railroad.

At trial, the plaintiff presented expert evidence from an industrial hygienist and epidemiologists. The expert witnesses claimed that Harris's myeloma was a result of his exposure to diesel exhaust. The expert witness provided numerous studies to support this assertion. These studies proved a correlation between diesel exhaust and certain types of cancer. However, no reputable scientist has ever claimed that diesel exhaust is the cause of multiple myeloma.