Texas Railroad Throat Cancer Lawyer

No matter what specific role they perform or where they work within a railyard or on a locomotive, railroad workers have an especially high risk of developing occupational cancer compared to workers in almost any other industry. One of the most common places where railroad workers develop cancer is in the throat, sometimes alongside cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and lungs. The Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) gives railroad employees who become hurt or ill due to unsafe working conditions the right to file suit against their negligent employers, as a qualified cancer attorney could explain. If you want the best chance of success with a case involving job-related throat cancer, you may benefit from contacting a Texas railroad throat cancer lawyer with specific experience handling your unique type of claim.

How Employer Negligence Could Lead to Throat Cancer

In addition to the ever-present risk of catastrophic injury from mechanical malfunctions, material defects, or simple human error, railroad work is uniquely dangerous in large part due to how many dangerous and carcinogenic chemicals workers are regularly exposed to.

While some infamously hazardous substances like asbestos are fortunately less common sights in railyards today than they once were, exposure to silica dust from track ballast, diesel exhaust from locomotives, creosote used as coating for railroad ties, or even more commonplace products like industrial solvents and weed killers, can greatly increase a worker’s risk of eventually developing throat cancer.

It is important to understand that simply proving that a hazardous material was present on a railroad work site does not justify recovery under FELA by itself. In addition, FELA claimants must establish that some form of negligence by their employer directly contributed to them becoming sick. An example might be not providing functional protective equipment or not replacing old materials that have known hazardous components. A Texas railroad throat cancer attorney could provide irreplaceable assistance in building a comprehensive case along these lines.

Recoverable Damages Through a FELA Claim

While proving fault for an on-the-job illness or injury is harder under FELA than it is under typical workers’ comp rules, the main benefit of this system is that it allows claimants who successfully meet this higher standing to recover substantially more compensation for a wider variety of damages. A comprehensive railroad throat cancer claim in Texas could allow recovery for both economic and non-economic consequences of that illness, including:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Lost income/earning capacity
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional/psychological harm
• Lost enjoyment of life

Additional benefits may also be available for partial or total disability caused by throat cancer related to railroad work, as a Texas lawyer could further explain. However, it is generally best to begin the claim process as soon as possible after discovering a connection between railroad work and a throat cancer diagnosis. FELA regulations allow a maximum of three years after that point in most situations for an injured or ill worker to file their claim.

Consider Working with a Texas Railroad Throat Cancer Attorney

Developing any kind of cancer from conditions you were exposed to during railroad or railyard work can have devastating repercussions in every aspect of your life. Fortunately, federal law grants you the right to file suit in situations like this against your current or former employer and demand financial compensation for the negative impact your illness has had and will continue to have on you.

If you believe your throat cancer diagnosis is connected to your time employed by a railroad company, a Texas railroad throat cancer lawyer may be able to help. Call today to set up a consultation.