Skip to main content

Kansas Railroad Diesel Exposure

Toxic Exposure Lawyer Filing Kansas Railroad Cancer Lawsuits
Request a No-Cost & Confidential Consultation
Freight train on tracks with diesel exhaust

Kansas Diesel Cancer Settlements

Current and former railroaders in Kansas and across the Midwest have fallen ill with occupational cancers like AML and lung cancer due to frequent workplace exposure to diesel fumes, welding fumes, solvents, silica dust, benzene, asbestos and creosote. Taking legal action following toxic exposure can compensate families for a wide range of related damages.

Railroad workers who have been forced to leave their job due to an occupational lung disease or another serious medical condition can elect to file FELA claims and pursue a personal injury lawsuit when necessary. Contact our railroad cancer lawyers to discuss the next steps.

How Are Kansas Railroad Workers At Cancer Risk?

Health risks depend largely on the specific position at a rail yard, but some workers still face chronic toxic exposure on the job. The industry had been known to use asbestos in locomotive brake linings, and in the insulation of cabs and other machinery. Asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Diesel fuel is still used in great quantities with diesel trains consuming hundreds of gallons of fuel on regular runs. Thus, rail yards can be filled with diesel fumes, endangering anyone in the area. Diesel exhaust exposure is linked to numerous lung diseases, including lung cancer, bladder cancer, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis and several other cancers.

Any workers who were based in poorly ventilated workshops or roundhouses were at an increased risk of inhaling unhealthy amounts of carcinogenic diesel engine exhaust and vapors. Pipefitters, welders, boiler techs, electricians, machinists, diesel mechanics, and others were regularly handling or inhaling solvents, degreasers, mineral spirits, asbestos fibers and other toxins.

Trackmen and track maintenance crews have complained of the tasks of constantly handling creosote-covered ties, herbicides and moving ballast rock, which disturbs the ballast and makes silica dust exposure likely.

Even conductors and engineers inside the trains have been exposed to great amounts of diesel exhaust, which has been described as inescapable, despite basic precautions. Many railroad workers return home at night with the smell of diesel on their persona and clothing.

Our railroad injury lawyers are reviewing workplace cancer claims for former Kansas railroaders at the following rail yards:

  • Coffeyville Yard (UP)
  • Emporia Yard (BNSF)
  • Gardner: Logistics Park (BNSF)
  • Armourdale Yard (UP)
  • Kansas City: Mill Street Yard (KCT, formerly Gateway Western Railroad)
  • Now Kaw River RR (Watco)
  • Newton: Sand Creek Yard (BNSF)
  • Topeka: Topeka Yard (UP)
  • Dodge City Business Park, Dodge City, KS
  • Logistics Park Kansas City, Edgerton, KS
  • Astra Enterprise Park, De Soto, KS
  • Kansas Logistics Park, Newton, KS
  • Argentine Yard

What Can Kansas Railroaders Recover in Diesel Exposure Settlements?

Every individual case is unique and your settlement package will depend on your documented work history and the severity of your work-related illness and injuries. In the past, The Lyon Firm has successfully negotiated compensation packages for plaintiffs that have included the following:

  • Damages related to lost wages and lost future earnings due to the inability to continue working following an occupational cancer.
  • Damages for expenses that workers’ comp or FELA compensation packages will not cover
  • Medical costs and expenses not covered by your health insurance
  • Expenses for past and future treatments, medications, surgeries, consults and long-term care
  • Compensation for rehab programs and job training for workers who cannot return to the same position at a rail yard
  • Nonmaterial damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, wrongful death, and reduced quality of life

CONTACT THE LYON FIRM TODAY

Please complete the form below for a FREE consultation.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

ABOUT THE LYON FIRM

Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.

The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.

NO COST UNLESS WE WIN

The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.

stats

Which Lung Diseases Are Linked to Diesel Exposure?

Several cancers and occupational lung diseases have links to an acute or chronic exposure to solvents, ballast dust, asbestos, diesel exhaust, benzene, creosote and welding fumes, including the following:

  • Lung Cancer
  • Bladder Cancer
  • Esophageal Cancer
  • Nasopharyngeal Cancer
  • Stomach Cancer
  • Kidney Cancer
  • Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
  • Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
  • Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
  • Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
  • Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Aplastic Anemia
  • COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
  • Emphysema
  • RADS (Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome)
  • Interstitial Lung Disease
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis 

Only after several decades of documented illness in the railroad industry did NIOSH and OSHA some improve work safety standards. There is still a high risk, however, of toxic exposure at rail yards due to the amount of dangerous chemicals on job sites.

Because of the high risk, the government has established that injured Kansas railroaders can file Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA) injury claims. Workers do have to prove that a company was negligent and did not properly protect them, but that is our job. If more robust compensation is necessary to ensure a stable financial future, a separate toxic exposure lawsuit may also be considered. Contact our attorneys to discuss your legal options.

photo of attorney Joe Lyon
Justice For America’s Working Class

Can I File a Railroad Injury Lawsuit?

Railroad injury lawsuits may be more common than you realize. Any injury that warrants compensation is one that prohibits you from continuing working in the same capacity. So if you have suffered a physical ailment or have developed an occupation cancer, you have a good claim.

Our railroad injury lawyers can build your case while you focus on your health and spend time with your family. We aim to negotiate for the best possible settlement terms, and we have a history of winning these types of cases. Any company that fails to protect workers with a safe work environment is generally willing to settle with plaintiffs without the need for a jury trial. Contact us to learn more about filing a lawsuit on your behalf.

CONTACT THE LYON FIRM TODAY

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Kansas Railroad Cancer FAQ

What are some common carcinogens in rail yards?

The railroad industry has never been the cleanest and safest option for employment, and while conditions have improved over the years, the following toxins are still commonly found in rail yards:

  • Solvents
  • Degreasers
  • Adhesives
  • Diesel Fuel
  • Benzene-based products
  • Creosote
  • Ballast rock containing silica dust
  • Asbestos insulation
  • Welding fumes
Can I file a railroad diesel exhaust cancer lawsuit?

If you or a loved one worked for years for a railroad company in a position where you faced daily exposure to one or more toxin, and later get a confirmed diagnosis of a related illness or cancer, you can consider filing a FELA claim and a personal injury lawsuit. Call us to assess your case and possible compensation package.

What are some large Kansas rail yards?
  • Coffeyville Yard (UP)
  • Emporia Yard (BNSF)
  • Gardner: Logistics Park (BNSF)
  • Armourdale Yard (UP)
  • Kansas City: Mill Street Yard (KCT, formerly Gateway Western Railroad), Now Kaw River RR (Watco)
  • Newton: Sand Creek Yard (BNSF)
  • Topeka: Topeka Yard (UP)
  • Dodge City Business Park, Dodge City, KS
  • Logistics Park Kansas City, Edgerton, KS
  • Astra Enterprise Park, De Soto, KS
  • Kansas Logistics Park, Newton, KS
Why Hire Our Diesel Exposure Attorneys?

Joe Lyon and his team of diesel cancer lawyers can take the lead and guide you through a complex legal process. We need to build a strong case against any negligent employers or third-party supplier and that begins by reviewing your full work history and medical records. With the help of industry experts, we can then draw a line between your past exposure to cancer-causing substances and the illness you now suffer from.

We have twenty years of experience in the fields of work injury and toxic exposure litigation. We have the resources and dedication to take on large corporations who may have failed to protect railroaders in Kansas and throughout the nation.

Our past settlements have awarded clients six and seven figures, and helped families to pay for significant medical debt and other expenses. Call for a free consultation with a railroad injury lawyer.

What Railroad Jobs Carry the most health Risks?

Trackmen, carmen, brakemen, signalmen, maintenance of way crews, conductors, engineers, pipefitters and plumbers, electricians, welders, and diesel mechanics at rial yards have been diagnosed with occupational cancers.

Discover the Ways We Can Help
Railroad Toxic Exposure Information