A lung cancer diagnosis is a devastating experience and one with which many railroad workers are all too familiar. The toxic chemicals, liquids, and exhaust fumes that railroad workers encounter can cause adverse cellular changes and tissue damage, which, over time, can result in malignancy. While toxic exposure to substances like asbestos, diesel exhaust, and silica on the railroad has been linked to a wide array of cancers, lung cancer is one of the most common diagnoses. If you were diagnosed with lung cancer after working on the railroad, you should consult with a seasoned railroad cancer attorney. An Ohio railroad lung cancer lawyer could help you seek the compensation you need. A knowledgeable railroad injury lawyer can help you understand your rights and discuss whether taking legal action may be an option.
Unfortunately, the toxic chemicals and environmental hazards that many railroad workers are exposed to on a daily basis have been linked to a range of troubling cancer diagnoses. Lung cancer is a common diagnosis attributed to occupational hazards in the railroad industry. Asbestos and diesel fumes are two of the most common offenders in terms of the toxic substance that frequently lead to the onset of malignant and widespread cancer.
The toxins in diesel fumes and asbestos contain properties that are carcinogenic to the human body. Over time, frequent and prolonged exposure to these carcinogens can damage a person’s DNA and impair cell function, which in turn can develop into cancer later in someone’s life.
When a railroad worker develops an occupational illness such as lung cancer, federal law provides a way for them to seek recovery of their damages. This law is the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). FELA is not to be confused with workers’ compensation coverage, which generally is not available to railroad employees. A railroad employee can seek compensation if their lung cancer diagnosis arises from exposure to unreasonable hazards on the job arising – even in part – from their employer’s negligence.
A wide variety of damages may be recovered in a railroad worker’s lung cancer claim. An Ohio lawyer could help a railroad worker diagnosed with lung cancer pursue damages for their out-of-pocket costs like wage loss, surgery costs, chemotherapy expenses, and doctor bills. The worker’s intangible damages, such as pain, suffering, loss of life enjoyment, and emotional anguish may also be recovered.
Railroad companies must provide adequate safety measures to prevent predictable injuries or harm to their employees. If a railroad company does not use proper care to ensure employees’ safety, negligently subjecting them to cancerous toxins (i.e., asbestos, silica, diesel exhaust, benzene), the court may order the company to pay out damages if a worker is diagnosed with lung cancer. A railroad lung cancer attorney can investigate a railroad employee’s lung cancer diagnosis to determine whether the company was negligent in some way.
It is not always necessary to go to court to obtain compensation. It may also be possible to reach a settlement without the need to file a lawsuit. Cases that are settled out of court generally take less time than claims that are litigated. Whether a claim is resolved through an out-of-court settlement or goes to trial, the process of claiming compensation can be difficult. This is why it is important to hire a skilled railroad cancer attorney who understands these legal processes, the common challenges that arise in lung cancer cases, and how to best build a compelling claim for compensation.
If you believe you may be owed compensation from the railroad company but do not know where to start, the best place to begin is to talk with an Ohio railroad lung cancer lawyer. An attorney could analyze the basis of your potential cancer claim and the most effective legal arguments that may be used in your case. Reach out today to discuss your case.
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