The railroads built this country, allowing the construction and population of the cities of the West. They aided the extraction of the resources of this country to feed the industrial and commercial booms that led to this country's rise to greatness in the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the accomplishments of the railroad has always come at a cost to railroad workers, a cost that today continues to be paid by victims of asbestos exposure.

 

If you believe you may have suffered injury following asbestos exposure, you may be eligible for compensation. Schedule a railroad worker asbestos injury consultation with Schlichter, Bogard & Denton today to learn more.

 

Asbestos & Railroad Applications

 

Asbestos is a fibrous material that has long been known for its strength and fire resistance. In fact, the word asbestos means "indestructible." For this reason, it was used on steam locomotives to insulate pipes. Even when the steam locomotive was replaced by the diesel engine, asbestos remained a common material in railroad applications for its insulating properties and durability. As late as the 1980s, new asbestos-containing materials were being used as:

• Insulation for walls and ceilings
• Floor tiles
• Gaskets
• Railroad brake shoes

 

Whenever these materials were installed or removed, they would release asbestos fibers. In the confined space of railroad cars, asbestos collected, leading to an elevated asbestos exposure among railroad workers. Brake shoes in particular led to high levels of exposure for railroad mechanics due to the high level of wear and frequent replacement.

 

Dangers of Asbestos

 

Asbestos exposure has long been known to carry deadly consequences. People exposed to asbestos are at a risk for:

• Asbestosis
• Lung and other cancers
• Mesothelioma

 

Asbestosis was documented and named as early as 1924, asbestos was linked to cancer by the 1930s, and by the 1960s asbestos was established as the cause of mesothelioma, which has virtually no other risk factors.

 

Asbestosis is disabling because it reduces lung function and deadly because it contributes to future cancer risk.  Mesothelioma is a very dangerous disease, and many times diagnosis comes with a very poor chance of survival.

 

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

 

Talk to your doctor about your asbestos exposure and be aware of the symptoms of mesothelioma:

• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Chest or abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Weight loss
• Anemia

 

If you have been exposed to asbestos as a railroad worker, you cannot afford to ignore any of these warning signs.

 

Compensation for Asbestos Exposure

 

Although asbestos exposure had been definitively linked to health risks, it continued to be used for decades because it was effective and cheaper than available alternatives. Railroad executives sacrificed the health of their workers for profits for themselves and stockholders. Compensation cannot put your life back to the way it was before your illness. But it can ensure that you and your loved ones are taken care of despite your illness, and deprive executives and stockholders of ill-gotten gains.

 

If you are a railroad worker hurt by asbestos exposure, you should work with a law firm with a long record of working with the railroad industry. The attorneys at Schlichter, Bogard & Denton have been standing up for the rights of railroad workers for over thirty years, and we will continue to stand up for those railroad workers hurt by asbestos exposure, nationwide. To learn how we can help you, contact us to schedule a railroad asbestos injury consultation today.