Who Can File an Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit?
You may be eligible to file an asbestos exposure lawsuit if:
- You worked in the railroad industry and were exposed to asbestos.
- You have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, throat cancer, colorectal cancer or another asbestos-related condition.
- A family member who worked for the railroad has developed an asbestos-related disease due to secondhand exposure.
What Railroad Asbestos Settlements Are Available?
Victims of railroad asbestos exposure may be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including ongoing treatments and medications
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering related to your illness
- Wrongful death benefits for families who lost a loved one to asbestos-related diseases
How Hughes Law Offices Can Help
At Hughes Law Offices, our attorneys focus their practice onspecialize in representing railroad workers who have been harmed by asbestos exposure. We work with medical experts, industrial hygienists, and toxicologistslegal professionals to build strong cases for our clients. Our firm operates on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.
If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos while working on the railroads, contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Understanding Railroad Asbestos Exposure
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral that is mined from deposits around the world. Asbestos is tough, resistant to corrosion, an excellent insulator, and cheap to produce. These characteristics made asbestos well-suited for a wide variety of applications throughout the railroad industry. The railroads began using asbestos shortly after industrial production of asbestos began. Before long, the railroad industry heavily relied on products manufactured with asbestos.
Does Asbestos Cause Cancer?
Yes. There are six different types of asbestos. All six are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as Group 1 carcinogens. 1 Group 1 carcinogens are toxins that are known to cause cancer. Examples of other Group 1 carcinogens include benzene, plutonium, and tobacco.
How Much Asbestos Exposure Is Dangerous?
The only safe level of asbestos exposure is zero. Even small doses of asbestos exposure can result in the development of mesothelioma.
How Does Asbestos Exposure Occur?
Most dangerous exposures to asbestos occur through ingestion or inhalation. As asbestos materials deteriorate they break down and release asbestos fibers into the air. Once asbestos dust becomes airborne, it can float in the air for days. Airborne asbestos dust is easily inhaled or ingested.
If inhaled, asbestos can be permanently trapped in your lungs. If swallowed, asbestos can be permanently trapped in your digestive tract. Exposure to airborne asbestos can be particularly severe when working in unventilated environments without respirators or other protective equipment.
Asbestos exposure typically occurs on the job. However, this is not always the case. Asbestos fibers also cling to clothing. Many individuals who have never worked around asbestos materials develop cancer as a result of being exposed to the asbestos brought into their homes on the clothing of loved ones.
Which Railroad Workers Suffered the Worst Asbestos Exposures?
Traditionally, locomotive machinists, electricians, pipefitters, and car department workers had some of the worst asbestos exposures. Those railroad employees performed hands-on work, which involved cutting and shaping of asbestos-containing parts, such as gaskets and brake shoes. There were also asbestos exposure routes for locomotive engineers and conductors and track department workers.
Asbestos insulation was used throughout locomotives and railroad buildings and bridges were literally constructed out of asbestos-containing materials. When the railroads remediated asbestos from the locker room floors and ceilings, the contractors often negligently spread the asbestos dust throughout the workspace.
What Can I Do If I Was Exposed to Asbestos?
If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, the attorneys at Hughes Law Offices may be able to help. These railroad worker asbestos cases are complicated and require experienced attorneys. While you and your loved ones focus on recovery, let us do the work needed to prove your case. Contact Hughes Law Offices today at (312) 741-1456 for a free consultation.
Schedule a Railroad Asbestos Consultation Today
Railroad workers diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses are entitled to compensation. If you or a loved one suffered exposure, don’t wait, as legal deadlines apply. Call Hughes Law Offices today for a free consultation to explore your options for compensation.
Hughes Law Offices provides railroad worker asbestos case histories to inform visitors about case fact patterns and rulings. To learn more about these cases, visit our Asbestos Verdicts & Settlements page.
