Diesel Injury Law

Illinois 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 causing your illness. We handle railroad cancer lawsuits in Illinois and throughout the United States.

Free Case Evaluation

    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:

    Pulmonary:

    Neurological:

    We serve all railroad employees in crafts with historical exposures to toxins, including the following:

    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.  

    Most of the Class I railroads operate in Illinois, including:

    • BNSF Railway – BNSF’s facilities in Illinois include the Eola Yard, Galesburg, Elwood, Corwith Yards, Logistics Park, Cicero Intermodal, and Willow Springs.
    • Union Pacific Railroad – Union Pacific’s Illinois-based yards, shops and facilities include Dupo Yard, Proviso Yard, Global Yards I-IV, Northlake, Chicago, Joliet, and Dolton.
    • CSX Transportation – CSX operates Barr Yard, 59th Street Yard, and Bedford Park Intermodal Terminal in Illinois.
    • Norfolk Southern Railway – NS operates Decatur Yard, 47th Street Yard, Ashland Avenue Yard, Calumet Yard, Landers Intermodal, and Kankakee Yard.
    • Canadian National Railway – CN, via its operating lines such as Illinois Central Railroad, runs Champaign Yard, East Joliet Yard, Glenn Yard, Markham Yard, and Schiller Park Intermodal in Illinois.
    • Canadian Pacific Railway/Soo Line – CP operates Bensenville Yard and Schiller Park Container Yard in Illinois.

    Illustrative Illinois railroad verdicts & settlements

    Verdict

    $7.5M

    CNW and UP trackman developed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) as a result of long-term exposures to creosote, degreasing solvents and lead. Railroad failed to provide necessary protective clothing. (Brown v. Union Pacific)

    Verdict

    $3.5M

    Retired railroad employee died of lung cancer as a result of workplace asbestos exposure. Verdict reduced to $3,107,250 for plaintiff’s tobacco use which may have contributed to lung cancer. (McGowan v. Central Illinois Railroad Co.)

    Verdict

    $383K

    Locomotive conductor worked for Union Pacific for 25 years. During his time with the railroad, he regularly inhaled asbestos fibers while riding in cabooses that had asbestos shields to protect the wooden walls from the heat. As a result of...

    Settlement

    $850K

    Railroad switchman was employed by Soo Line Railroad a subsidiary of Canadian Pacific Railroad. The Plaintiff alleged that he was exposed to toxic fumes from a leaking tank car while he was working in Bensenville Yard. He subsequently developed Wegner’s...

    Settlement

    Undisclosed

    Hughes Law Offices represented an on board services Amtrak employee who was a never smoker and yet was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer. Amtrak disclosed documents showing that it knowingly exposed on board personnel to cancer-causing secondhand smoke for...

    Settlement

    Undisclosed

    Hughes Law Offices represented a locomotive conductor who worked for Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and its predecessor Chicago and North Western Transportation Company (CNW). Our client worked for CNW and UP from 1973 to 2015. A couple years after retiring,...

    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 an Illinois railroad cancer attorney.

    Questions? We Can Help! Contact Us Today!

    Client Testimonials

    Real People. Real Cases.

    53 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago IL 60604 US
    (312) 877-5588
    5/5 based on 4 reviews

    Wrongful Death Case

    My family hired attorney Hughes for the wrongful death of my brother. Mr. Hughes worked very hard on our case, the results were excellent. I would recommend him to anyone needing an attorney, he is a very fair and kind person.

    Unique Expertise

    Andrew took over my asthma claim with the railroad after a different law firm failed to meet expectations. Andrew’s unique expertise in the field of diesel related injury gave him the ability to build my case exceptionally well. When Andrew presented...

    Professional and Trustworthy

    From my very first contact with Andrew we have found him to be compassionate, hard working and trust worthy. In the eight months we were associated with Andrew we feel he has also become a friend of ours...

    Worked Diligently

    For the past two years Andrew Hughes has worked diligently in helping me with my case against the Norfolk Southern R.R. During this time he has kept me thoroughly informed about my case his expertise led to me getting a generous settlement...

    Verdicts and Settlements

    Survey of Railroad Cancer Claims

    Hughes Law Offices is providing case histories to inform visitors about actual case fact patterns and rulings.
    Unless specifically noted, the cases summarized herein were not handled by attorneys at Hughes Law Offices.
    See All Verdicts

    Verdict

    $19.1M

    Railroad carman died of pulmonary fibrosis following 18 years of welding.

    Verdict

    $2.6M

    Locomotive engineer in his early 60’s developed diesel asthma.

    Verdict

    $3.3M

    Railroad mechanic diagnosed with squamous cell oropharyngeal cancer.

    Verdict

    $5.7M

    Trainman died of nasopharyngeal cancer as a result of working on-board locomotives filled with diesel exhaust.

    Verdict

    $3.5M

    Retired railroad employee died of lung cancer as a result of workplace asbestos exposure.

    Verdict

    $3.5M

    61 year old railroad conductor diagnosed with interstitial fibrosis and an increased risk of lung cancer as a result of exposure to diesel exhaust.

    Questions? We Can Help! Contact Us Today!