Although the dangers of some substances used in the railroad industry have been understood for some time, we are also still learning of harm caused by other substances such as the weed killers used by workers maintaining railroad right-of-way spaces. Railroad workers may suffer both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma caused by exposure to chemicals used on the job. If you were diagnosed with lymphoma after working in or around trains or railroad tracks, it is a good idea to consult a railroad injury lawyer to learn about legal options to protect yourself and your family. A skilled attorney who understands railroad lymphoma lawsuits could evaluate your case and fight to obtain the full amount of compensation to which you may be entitled.
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system in which lymphocyte cells in the body’s immune system mutate and grow out of control. The most common type is non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Numerous studies link exposure to benzene and glyphosate to an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Benzene is a component of diesel exhaust, so any worker in a railroad shop or who works on or outside of operating locomotives could be at risk for developing lymphoma caused by benzene.
Even if the railroad worker smoked cigarettes or had other risk factors for lymphoma, an attorney may be able to obtain compensation for cancer.
Recent studies have demonstrated a risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma after significant exposure to the weedkiller glyphosate. Maintenance of way workers have been using this chemical to control growth around railroad tracks for years, leading to significant exposure to this carcinogenic substance. Although railroads could have taken precautions to limit this exposure in their workers, in most cases, they did not. A diligent railroad lymphoma attorney could help an injured worker collect evidence to prove cancer was caused by contact with these or other dangerous substances on the job.
The Federal Employers Liability Act or FELA allows railroad employees in any state to seek compensation for injuries suffered in the course of their employment. FELA lawsuit claims are handled differently than workers’ compensation claims. While workers’ compensation claims can be easier to prove, injured employees have the potential to receive substantially more compensation through a FELA claim. In a workers’ compensation case, injured employees only need to demonstrate that an injury occurred while they were at work. By contrast, an injured employee filing a claim under FELA must show that their employer was negligent and that the negligence caused the illness or injury at issue.
A railroad lymphoma lawyer could help establish this showing of negligence so that workers suffering from lymphoma can obtain fair compensation. Claims must be prepared and filed within three years “from the day the cause of action accrued” under 45 U.S.C. §56. This means railroad workers suffering from lymphoma caused by on-the-job conditions in the railroad industry have a limited amount of time to file a claim for compensation under FELA. The law requires suits to be filed within three years of the time the worker was diagnosed with cancer and knew or should have known of the cancer’s relationship to the railroad work. Only an experienced railroad cancer injury attorney can determine when that three-year period begins to run.
The prognosis for those diagnosed with lymphoma varies a great deal depending on the rate of the progression of the disease and the time that elapsed before it was discovered. In many cases, treatment may achieve remission but not a full cure.
A railroad injury lawyer could help you obtain compensation to cover medical bills, future needs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and much more. While money cannot restore lost health, it can provide for future needs for yourself and your family. If your railroad employer was negligent in exposing you to dangerous chemicals on the job, it is only fair to hold them accountable. Call now to learn more about railroad lymphoma lawsuits and your legal options.
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