Chicago, IL asked in Personal Injury and Workers' Compensation for Illinois

Q: My Dad worked for the railroad and now has lung cancer. He worked around diesel exhaust. Can he sue the railroad?

He worked for the railroad for 35 years.

1 Lawyer Answer
Andrew L. Hughes
Andrew L. Hughes
Answered
  • Chicago, IL
  • Licensed in Illinois

A: Yes - if he was exposed to diesel exhaust at work he may very well have a case. Diesel Exhaust is now considered a carcinogen by the World Health Organization. He would need to bring his action under the Federal Employers Liability Act. If he rode on locomotives, the Locomotive Inspection Act and Code of Federal Regulations will come into play as well. These are complicated toxic tort claims however, so make sure that you retain counsel who is very familiar with both FELA law and toxic tort litigation. Multiple experts will need to be retained in order to prove up a claim like this. Best of luck to you.

1 user found this answer helpful

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.