Texas Railroad Colon Cancer Lawyer

Working on a train or in a railroad yard is a hazardous job. Not only do you risk tripping, falling, and being injured by mechanical equipment, but railroad workers frequently are exposed to toxic substances, some of which may cause cancer. Railroad workers are at higher risk of developing colon cancer than the general population, and exposure to toxins in the workplace might be a reason why. If you are a current or former railroad employee with a colon cancer diagnosis, consult a Texas railroad colon cancer lawyer. If you can prove your job had a role in your cancer diagnosis, you could sue the railroad for damages.

Toxic Exposure Common in Railyards

Railroad workers might suffer exposure to multiple toxic or hazardous chemicals during their employment. Many substances in railyards are known or suspected carcinogens.

Colon cancer risk factors include a family history of the disease, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and a high-fat, low-fiber diet. However, in recent years, medical researchers have published studies linking colon cancer to occupational exposure to certain chemicals and substances often found in industrial settings. Depending on their job, railroad workers might be exposed to some of the suspect substances, including:

• Asbestos
• Benzene
• Creosote
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
• Second-hand smoke
• Toluene
• Xylene

Diesel exhaust contains benzene, PAHs, toluene, and xylene, and workers who are frequently exposed to diesel fumes could be at higher risk of colon cancer than others. Asbestos is present in some railroad machinery, and if a worker ingests any of the tiny asbestos fibers, they could cause colon cancer. An attorney representing a Texas railroad worker with colon cancer could investigate to determine which chemicals they might have been exposed to in their workplace.

Railroads Liable for Employee’s Injuries

The Federal Employee Liability Act (FELA) protects railroad employees who suffer job-related injuries. Depending on the worker’s specific job, an attorney could prove a workplace exposure to toxins caused a railroad employee’s colon cancer.

FELA does not require proof that workplace exposure to toxins was the sole cause of the worker’s illness, only that it contributed. An attorney representing Texas railroad workers with malignant cancers could present medical evidence linking colon cancer with the chemicals they were exposed to at work.

Winning damages under FELA also requires proof that the railroad negligently exposed the worker to a toxin that contributed to their cancer. A seasoned legal professional could gather evidence showing a railroad did not take adequate steps to protect a worker from dangerous substances in the workplace, which could prove negligence.

Negligent Railroads are Liable for Damages

A railroad is responsible for paying the damages of any former or current employee if that company was partially responsible for causing the injury or illness. If the worker dies of a condition related to their railroad employment, their family could work with a Texas railroad colon cancer attorney to seek damages through a wrongful death claim.

A worker’s damages include their cancer-related medical expenses and the projected cost of any future treatment that could be necessary. The worker could recoup their lost wages, including future wages that they cannot earn because of their cancer. The worker also could collect damages for their pain, suffering, permanent disability, and permanent disfigurement.

Although a railroad is liable if it bears any responsibility for the worker’s colon cancer, a jury will consider the worker’s conduct when awarding damages. If the worker had colon cancer risk factors such as a history of smoking or obesity, they might receive only partial damages. It is a lawyer’s job to push back against that and identify the negligence of the employer.

Pursue Your Claim with a Texas Railroad Colon Cancer Attorney

Colon cancer can be treated but it may require surgery and chemotherapy. Adapting to life after colon cancer could be challenging. If your service to your employer contributed to your illness, you deserve compensation.

Contact a Texas railroad colon cancer lawyer for help pursuing damages. With the assistance of a seasoned legal professional, you could secure compensation for your injuries that could help you and your family move forward after your cancer treatment.