California Railroad Cancer Law Firm
Chicago-based Hughes Law Offices serves current and former railroad employees diagnosed with cancer, leukemia and pulmonary issues as a result of their work for the railroad. Whether you worked in engine service, on the track or in the shops, we will analyze your craft’s unique exposures and determine whether they contributed to cause your illness. We handle railroad cancer lawsuits in California and throughout the United States.
Chronic railroad exposures to diesel exhaust, asbestos, creosote, welding fumes, silica sand, benzene-containing solvents and degreasers, herbicides and secondhand smoke can lead to numerous conditions, including:
Cancer:
Leukemia:
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL)
- Multiple Myeloma (MM)
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Pulmonary:
- Diesel Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Reactive Airway Disease (RADS)
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
- Emphysema
Neurological:
We serve all railroad employees in crafts with historical exposures to toxins, including the following:
- Locomotive Engineer
- Brakeman/Conductor
- Track Department/Trackman
- Locomotive Machinist/Electrician/Pipefitter
- Car Department/Carman
- Bridges & Buildings
In proving up your railroad cancer lawsuit, Hughes Law Offices will take any unique exposures into account. For instance, we have served clients who described leaking underground fuel tanks, serving chemical plants and refineries, exposures from toxic freight etc. We will bring all of those exposures to bear in proving up your railroad cancer case.
Class I railroads operating in California include:
- BNSF Railway – BNSF’s facilities in California include Barstow Yard, Hobart Yard, and Calwa Yard.
- Union Pacific Railroad – Union Pacific’s California-based yards, shops, and facilities include Industry Yard, West Colton Yard, East Yard, Aurant Yard, East Los Angeles Yard, Piggyback Yard, Desert Yard, and J.R. Davis Yard.
Illustrative California railroad verdicts & settlements:
- $6,951,000 verdict – The Plaintiff worked as a boilermaker for Southern Pacific Railroad (which merged with UP in ‘96). During his time with the railroad, he was repeatedly exposed to asbestos at Southern Pacific’s Sacramento locomotive shops. As a result of his exposure, he developed malignant mesothelioma. (Emerson v. Union Pacific)
- $1,284,527 verdict – Locomotive brakeman suffered permanent injuries to his lungs and airways while he struggled to put out a fire that erupted on his locomotive as it was making its way through Davis, CA. The acute diesel exposure caused him to develop allergic sinusitis, asthma, and reactive airway disease. Following these injuries, the brakeman suffered severe reactions whenever he was exposed to diesel fumes. As a result, the trainman, who was in his 50’s, could no longer work in his profession. At trial, the railroad unsuccessfully argued that there was never any fire and that if there was a fire it did not cause his injuries. (Conley v. Union Pacific)
- $850,000 settlement – Railroad signalman worked for Western Pacific Railroad (a predecessor of Union Pacific) at its Sacramento and Oroville signal shops, both of which contained asbestos. Furthermore, the Plaintiff was required to work with asbestos-containing materials as part of his work duties. As a result of the unsafe working conditions, the Plaintiff developed mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. (Withrow v. Union Pacific)
Hughes Law Offices is providing case histories to inform visitors about actual case fact patterns and rulings in your area. Unless specifically noted, the cases summarized herein were not handled by attorneys at Hughes Law Offices.
If you suspect that your illness or that of a loved one could be related to railroad workplace exposures, please call 312-877-5588 to speak to a railroad cancer attorney.
