Contact Us Today
888-828-0866
A kidney cancer diagnosis can change every aspect of your life. For many railroad employees, years of exposure to diesel exhaust, industrial solvents, degreasers, fuels, herbicides, and other hazardous substances may have contributed to the development of kidney cancer. If you worked for a railroad and have been diagnosed with kidney cancer, a lawyer from our firm can help you seek compensation under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA).
Our railroad cancer lawyers represent railroad workers and their families in occupational cancer claims. We understand the unique hazards of railroad employment and work with leading medical and industrial experts to investigate whether workplace exposures contributed to a worker’s diagnosis.
Numerous studies have examined the relationship between occupational exposure to certain chemicals and an increased risk of kidney cancer. Railroad employees often spend decades working around substances that have been associated with kidney damage and, even worse, kidney cancer.
Potential railroad work exposures include:
Not every railroad employee experienced the same exposures. The specific chemicals involved often depend on the railroad they worked for, the employee’s job duties, work locations, equipment used, and the years they worked for the railroad.
Railroad employees frequently spent many years working in environments where hazardous substances were present on a daily basis. Unlike workers with occasional exposure, railroad employees may accumulate decades of repeated contact with industrial chemicals.
Employees who may have experienced significant exposure include:
Many workers performed their jobs before modern safety practices were widely implemented. In some workplaces, ventilation was inadequate, respiratory protection was unavailable or not required, and employees regularly handled hazardous chemicals without being warned of their long-term health risks.
The kidneys filter waste products and chemicals from the bloodstream. Certain industrial chemicals are processed through the kidneys, where they can cause cellular injury over time. Researchers have identified associations between specific occupational exposures and an increased risk of kidney cancer, particularly after long-term or repeated exposure.
Every case is different, and establishing causation generally requires careful review of a worker’s medical history, occupational history, and scientific evidence.
Unlike most workers’ compensation systems, railroad injury and occupational disease claims are governed by the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA).
Under FELA, an injured railroad worker must generally prove that the railroad’s negligence played some role in causing or contributing to the illness. This may include evidence that the railroad:
FELA follows a comparative negligence system. Even if other factors contributed to a worker’s illness, compensation may still be available if the railroad’s negligence contributed to the development of the disease.
Successful occupational cancer cases typically require extensive investigation and expert testimony.
Evidence may include:
Because kidney cancer often develops years or even decades after exposure, documenting a worker’s complete occupational history is frequently one of the most important parts of the case.
If a railroad’s negligence contributed to your kidney cancer, you are entitled to recover money damages.
Depending on the facts of the case, compensation may include:
If a railroad worker dies from kidney cancer that was caused or contributed to by occupational exposures, certain surviving family members may also have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim under FELA.
Railroad occupational disease cases are among the most complex personal injury claims. They often require extensive knowledge of railroad operations, historical workplace practices, industrial hygiene, occupational medicine, toxicology, and FELA litigation.
Building a successful kidney cancer case frequently involves reconstructing decades of workplace exposures and presenting scientific evidence that explains how those exposures contributed to the worker’s illness.
If you are a current or former railroad employee who has been diagnosed with kidney cancer, you may have legal rights under FELA. An experienced railroad kidney cancer attorney can investigate your work history, identify potential occupational exposures, consult with qualified experts, and explain your legal options.
Contact our office today for a free, confidential consultation to discuss your railroad employment history and whether you may have a claim.
Sign up for Our Newsletter Doran & Murphy EXPRESS
© 2026
Doran & Murphy, PLLC
All rights reserved | Attorney Advertising