Pulmonary Fibrosis Caused by Railroad - How to Get a Settlement
A lawsuit cannot relieve your pain or suffering and will not bring back a lost loved one. However, the Federal Employers Liability Act may be able to hold railroads accountable. Railroads who knew about asbestos lung cancer, mesothelioma and pulmonary fibrosis risk but did not do anything about them could be held liable.
A successful FELA case requires a thorough record of work and a thorough diagnosis. An experienced attorney can help with these issues.
What is Pulmonary Fybrosis?
The lung disease pulmonary fibrosis creates scar tissue in the lung. leukemia caused by railroad how to get a settlement can make it difficult to breathe because it affects the connective tissues between the tiny air sacs inside the lungs (alveoli). It also hinders oxygen flow between the alveoli and the bloodstream when you breathe. This lack of oxygen, combined with stiff, hardened tissue, can trigger symptoms like a shortness of breath, especially when you work or exercise.
Symptoms can come and go depending on the individual. People with pulmonary fibrosis have mild symptoms that gradually increase over time. Certain people suffer from more severe symptoms that get worse rapidly.
It can also make your immune system weaker making you more susceptible to infections. It is therefore essential to eat well, exercise regularly, and keep up with your vaccinations.
The only way to slow the progression of pulmonary fibrillation is with certain treatments. There is no cure, but they can help improve your quality of life. These include pirfenidone (Esbriet) and nintedanib (Ofev) medications which can reduce damage to the lungs. Other treatment options include the use of oxygen supplemental to the lungs and pulmonary rehabilitation, as well as lung transplant surgery. Doran and Murphy PLLC has extensive experience in representing railroad workers who developed pulmonary fibrosis as a result of exposure to dust and fumes during their work, including asbestos from shoes for brakes and pipe insulation silica from track sanding, metal dust cutting steel rails, and welding fumes.
What causes pulmonary fibrosis?
Pulmonary Fibrosis is a form of scarring that affects the lungs. It causes damage to lung tissues, which decreases the amount of oxygen in bloodstreams.
The condition can develop over time, and symptoms get worse as the scarring becomes more serious. It's not reverseable, but treatments can improve your quality of life and slow the progression of the disease.
Smoking is the most common cause of pulmonary fibrous diseases, however there are other causes. Exposed to harmful chemicals or environmental substances, such as toxic gasses and chemical fumes can cause fibrosis as well.
Smokers build up carbon deposits reminiscent of tar in their lungs, which increase their chances of getting this disease. Other risk factors include air pollution, emphysema and certain illnesses.
The majority of people suffering from pulmonary fibrosis have a chronic dry cough and shortness in breath, especially when they perform physical activities. Some people might ignore these symptoms or confuse them as the result of getting older, but the issue is likely to get worse as time goes on.
A doctor can determine if you have pulmonary fibrosis by asking about your medical history, and then performing physical examination. They can listen to your lung through a stethoscope and look over an X-ray, high-resolution CT or X-ray for abnormalities such as honeycomb patterns, ground-glass opacities, as well as fine lines called reticulations. They can also monitor your blood pressure, and also determine how much oxygen your body is absorbing.
How do I obtain a Settlement for Pulmonary Fibrosis?
If you worked for a railroad and you have been diagnosed with lung cancer or fibrosis, as well as another type of chronic illness serious due to your exposure to toxic substances at work and you have the right to submit a claim to the Federal Employers Liability Act. A pulmonary fibrosis settlement could help cover medical expenses, income loss, long-term disability, and other expenses.
Through time, railroad companies exposed workers to hazardous workplace chemicals such as asbestos and other carcinogenic substances. Inhaling or inhaling these toxic fumes and dusts puts employees at risk of developing respiratory ailments like idiopathic fibrosis lung disease and lung cancer.
Railroads knew that they were exposing workers to these hazardous substances, but failed to provide them with adequate warnings or protection equipment. Many have been affected by these debilitating diseases and even lost loved ones. Contact our railroad fibrosis attorneys today if you have been diagnosed with the disease.
Contact Us Today
Our Virginia attorneys can help should you be diagnosed with a lung condition such as pulmonary fibrillation. Or someone you love died from mesothelioma or another lung disease that is linked to railroad exposure. We represent railroad workers who have been injured as well as their families in accordance with a federal law referred to as the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA).
We have collected thousands of pages of documents that show that railroad companies were aware decades ago that exposure to diesel exhaust, asbestos and other fumes and dusts could lead to serious lung injuries. However, many railroads failed to adequately warn workers or provide respiratory protection. Some railroads continued to use asbestos and other harmful materials even after it was clear that asbestos was causing tens of thousand of railroad workers to get sick or die.
Lung diseases like fibrosis and mesothelioma can take between 20 and 30 years to manifest symptoms. It isn't easy to establish any direct connection between a person's pulmonary disease and their work history. An experienced attorney can help railroad workers with lung diseases and their grieving families put together an exhaustive record of their career and link it to the diagnosis.
Contact us to find out more about the services we can offer you. An attorney can also help you apply for benefits from the government that could be available to cover your care costs.