FELA Attorney

Exposure to Asbestos on the Railway

When most of us hear the word asbestos, we imagine men in big space suits cleaning up the roof of some old building. Yet, asbestos is quite literally alive and well in various workplaces today. Being exposed to asbestos can be fatal. If you breathe in asbestos for long durations, the micro fibers can become embedded in the lung's lining. Some say it is like having a small piece of glass in your lungs. This fiber never goes away. The body will try to reject it but is unable to do so. Asbestos takes a long time to do its work in the body. It could sometimes be over 30 years before a person will begin to experience health issues related to the asbestos they where exposed to from a past job.

Asbestos can be found in places we least expect but are finally beginning to recognize. The railways are no exception. We are finding asbestos in many areas of the railway system. Asbestos can be found in the brake shoes of the railroad. These brake shoes are used to brake and slow down the trains. Railway workers perform regular maintenance on these brake shoes unaware they are breathing in asbestos. Asbestos can also be found in the buildings of the railway systems. It can be in the ceilings, floor or even the walls.

Being exposed to asbestos can cause the development of mesothelioma. This is a form of lung cancer. It is a hard disease to detect since symptoms are similar to other common health issues. Unless a doctor knows the patient was exposed to asbestos for a long duration, the doctor will not even look for any asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. It is a dilemma since the patient is also ignorant to the fact they were exposed to asbestos when they worked on the railway for 40 years, for example.

If you have worked on the railway and are suffering health issues, you should first obtain the medical treatment necessary to get you back on the path of good health. It may be a difficult decision to make right now, but you should consider what legal options you have to take. The Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA) was passed by the United States Congress to protect railroad workers that are injured on the job.

Consult with a FELA attorney from Williams Kherkher. FELA attorneys have in depth knowledge of FELA and how it applies to all kinds of injuries including asbestos-related injuries. The FELA attorneys of Williams Kherkher will assess your case for free and help advise you on what you should do next. Call Williams Kherkher and ask to speak to one of their FELA attorneys today.