Pulmonary Fibrosis Caused by Railroad - How to Get a Settlement
A lawsuit can't alleviate your pain or suffering and will not bring back a lost loved one. However, the Federal Employers Liability Act may make railroad companies accountable. Railroads who knew about asbestos lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis and mesothelioma dangers but did not do anything about them could be held responsible.
lung cancer caused by railroad how to get a settlement requires a thorough work history and a precise diagnosis. An experienced attorney can help with these issues.
What is Pulmonary Fybrosis?
The lung disease pulmonary fibrosis causes scar tissue to accumulate in the lung. This scar tissue can make it difficult to breathe, as it affects the connective tissues that connect the air sacs that are tiny inside the lung (alveoli). It also hinders the flow of oxygen between the alveoli and the bloodstream during inhalation. This lack of oxygen combined with the hardened, stiff scar tissue can result in symptoms like shortness of breath particularly during exercise or work.
The symptoms may change over time, depending on the individual. People with pulmonary fibrosis have mild symptoms, which gradually worsen over years. Some sufferers have more severe symptoms which worsen rapidly.
It can also weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to infections. It is therefore important to eat healthy, exercise regularly and keep up with your vaccinations.
There is no cure for pulmonary fibrosis, however, some treatments can improve your quality of life and slow the progression of the disease. They include pirfenidone Esbriet, and nintedanib, Ofev. These medications can reduce lung damage. Other options for treatment include the use of oxygen supplemental to the lungs as well as pulmonary rehabilitation and lung transplant surgery. Doran and Murphy PLLC has extensive experience representing railroad workers who have developed lung fibrosis due to exposure to dust and fumes on the job, including asbestos from shoes for brakes and pipe insulation, silica dust from track sanding, dust that cut steel rail and welding fumes.
What is the cause of pulmonary fibrosis?
Pulmonary fibrosis causes scarring that affects the lungs. It damages lung tissues, which decreases the amount of oxygen in bloodstreams.
This condition is progressive and the symptoms get worse as the scarring becomes more severe. While it isn't reversible, through treatment, you can increase your quality of life and slow the progression of this disease.
Smoking is the most common cause of pulmonary fibrosis, however, there are other causes too. Exposed to certain types of chemicals or hazardous environmental chemicals can also cause fibrosis, such as toxic gases, chemical fumes and some cancer treatments.
Smoking increases the likelihood of developing this condition. Other risk factors are air pollution, emphysema and a variety of other diseases.
Most people with pulmonary fibrosis experience a persistent dry cough and shortness of breath, especially when they engage in exercises. Many people overlook these symptoms or mistake them as signs of getting older, but the issue will gradually get worse.
A doctor can diagnose lung fibrosis using an examination of your medical history and physical exam. They can examine your lungs with an stethoscope, and then look at an X-ray or high-resolution CT scan for signs of abnormalities, such as honeycombing patterns such as ground glass opacities, glare opacities and fine lines, also known as reticulations. They can also measure how much oxygen is consumed by your body, and measure the blood pressure of your lungs.
How can I obtain a settlement for pulmonary fibrosis?
If you worked for a railroad and you have been diagnosed with lung cancer or fibrosis, or any other kind of serious chronic illness due to your exposure to harmful substances on the job, you have the right to submit a claim to the Federal Employers Liability Act. A pulmonary-fibrosis claim could pay for medical costs as well as lost income, long-term disabilities, and other costs.
Throughout history, railroad companies exposed workers to hazardous chemical substances in the workplace, including asbestos and other carcinogenic substances. Inhaling and ingesting these toxic dusts and fumes put employees at a high chance of developing respiratory diseases like idiopathic lung fibrosis lung cancer, mesothelioma.
Railroads exposed their workers to hazardous substances without warning or providing them with protective equipment. Many people have suffered from these debilitating diseases and even lost loved ones. Contact our railroad fibrosis lawyers today if you've been diagnosed with the disease.
Contact Us Today
Our Virginia lawyers can help in the event that you've been diagnosed with a lung disorder like pulmonary fibrillation or when a loved one has passed away from mesothelioma or another lung disease linked to railroad exposure. We represent railroad workers who have been injured and their families under the provisions of a federal law known as the Federal Employers Liability Act, or FELA.
We have accumulated thousands of pages of documents showing that railroad companies were aware for decades that exposure to diesel exhaust, asbestos as well as other dusts and fumes can cause serious lung damage. Yet, many railroads didn't adequately warn workers or provide respiratory protection. Some even continued to use harmful materials like asbestos even when it was clear the material was a danger to the health and safety of tens of thousands of railroad workers.
Lung diseases such as mesothelioma and fibrosis can take between 20 and 30 years before they show symptoms. It isn't easy to establish a direct link between a person's lung condition and their work history. An experienced attorney can help railroad workers who suffer from lung disease and their grieving families put together an in-depth background of their work and link it to their diagnosis.
Contact us today to find out more about the ways we can help. A lawyer can help you to apply for any government benefits available to help you with the costs of care.