Railroad workers have always been at risk of physical safety hazards, but only relatively recently have experts determined that most workers in the field are at a seriously inflated risk of developing occupational illnesses. CPKC workers may have been exposed to diesel exhaust, asbestos, silica, creosote, benzene and other industrial toxins that are known to cause cancer.
The CDC has said there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and experts agree that similar work site exposures to other toxic materials increase the cancer rate among former workers.
Thousands of individuals who were employed at CPKC – Kansas City Southern or Canadian Pacific – are now suffering from lung conditions or a cancer linked to diesel exposure. Working anywhere around diesel locomotives is a lot more hazardous than once thought. Thus, former staff who are now paying the consequences can be entitled to compensation for related damages. Contact a toxic exposure lawyer at (513) 381-2333 to review your railroad injury claims.
What Can I Expect for a Railroad Cancer Settlement?
Every toxic exposure and railroad cancer case is unique and the size of a settlement depends largely on the exact diagnosis, prognosis, and whether the injury now results in permanent disability.
Compensation packages can reach seven figures, particularly in occupational lung cancer cases, due to an expectation of large medical costs that must be covered. Settlements often include damages related to lost wages, lost future earnings, and will cover past, current and future hospital bills.
The courts have awarded former railroad employees great sums due to the negligence of their former employers. Many of the rail companies are quick to settle claims to avoid taking a lawsuit to trial where juries can hand down huge verdicts to plaintiffs. The American public does not take kindly to companies who have repeatedly chosen corporate profit over worker safety and health, and that’s why The Lyon Firm is proud to represent you and your family.
Call our legal team to learn more about your neat steps after a confirmed cancer diagnosis. We can process your claim as soon as possible and fight for the largest compensation package available.
About CPKC
CPKC is the result of a merger of two large North American railways – Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS).
Although Canadian Pacific primarily operates to the north, its rail network extends to serve Minneapolis–St. Paul, Milwaukee, Detroit, Chicago, and Albany, New York. The company also made inroads south when they acquired the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) and the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad (IC&E) in 2009. They also operate the St. Paul rail yard.
The Kansas City Southern Railway Company has a much longer history in the US, and has employed tens of thousands of workers over the last century. KCS operated in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. The company mostly hauls freight for major industries, including agriculture and minerals, military, automotive, chemical and petroleum, energy, industrial and consumer products and intermodal.
