Former or current railroad employees may be eligible to file a FELA cancer lawsuit if they were diagnosed with cancer or other disease related to deadly toxins found in the railroad yard.

Loved ones of railroad employees may also be eligible to file a FELA cancer lawsuit, depending on the severity of the injuries and if their death was caused by deadly toxins  such as asbestos and benzene that are present in the railroad industry.

A FELA cancer lawsuit can seek compensation in cases where railroad companies have negligently failed to provide a safe work environment for their employees.

Due to the constant risk of dangerous chemical exposure, railroad companies are required to disclose this information to employees and provide protective equipment. Railroad companies that fail to provide these precautions may be liable for employee illness under the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA.

FELA was enacted by Congress in 1908 to assist railroad employees who sustained injury or disease from their occupation. Today, many railroad employees say railroad companies failed to provide a safe working environment, resulting in numerous cases of deadly cancers and FELA lawsuits.

Under FELA, employees who worked in unsafe work environments are able to seek compensation for medical expenses and other damages. Considering how expensive medical care is and extensive cancer treatment often requires, FELA compensation can definitely help minimize the financial impact.

Employees who are most likely to file a FELA cancer lawsuit include, but are not limited to:

• Engineers
• Conductors
• Switchman
• Carman
• Track Maintenance
• Machinists
• Clerk Workers

Overview of Railroad Cancer Problems

Cancer may result from regular exposure to dangerous substances like asbestos, benzene, radioactive materials, and creosote.

Benzene is a byproduct of diesel exhaust, and is commonly used as a solvent for degreasing locomotives. This material is a known carcinogen, and is one of the dangerous substances that can be absorbed through the skin.

Another dangerous chemical that can be absorbed through the skin is creosote, which has been shown to have a strong correlation with skin and scrotum cancer.

In the same vein of skin exposure dangers, railroad employees may work in the presence of radioactive material like enriched uranium and other dangerous substances. Railroad workers may ordinarily have no way to detect radioactivity in their environment, so employees may be completely oblivious to the fact that they were exposed or exposure level.

Another dangerous substance found in railroad work is asbestos, which was popularly used in the railroad industry for its fire and chemical resistant qualities.

However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) greatly restricted the use and access to asbestos, due to the dangers of mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. With such dangerous chemicals in the environment, railroad workers are at risk for developing a multitude of occupational cancers including:

• Asbestos Lung Cancer
• Asbestosis
• Bladder Cancer
• Colon Cancer
• Esophageal Cancer
• Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Kidney Cancer
• Leukemia
• Lung Cancer
• Mesothelioma
• Multiple Myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
• Laryngeal Cancer
• Rectal Cancer
• Stomach Cancer
• Throat Cancer

Railroad employees looking to file a FELA cancer lawsuit can get an idea of their legal rights and options through a consultation with a knowledgeable FELA attorney.