Injury and Occupational Exposure (Benzene)
We, at Morgan & Paul, PLLC represent individuals and families in injuries under the Federal Employer's Liability Act and the Jones Act covering railroad and Maritime workers. Additionally, individuals and families may be entitled to compensation as a result of occupational exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos, benzene or other defective products.
The Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA), is a federal law that protects and compensates railroaders who are injured on the job or as a result of an occupational illness. Congress passed the Federal Employer's Liability Act in the early 1900's to protect employees and their families by providing the right to recover compensation when injured as a result of an accident or occupational illness. Such compensation under the statute provides for a jury trial and to seek compensation for lost wages, future wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and additional damages for permanent disability. Mr. Morgan is a designated FELA attorney approved by the Transportation Communication Union. Mr. Paul is a panel attorney for Union Plus sponsored by the AFL-CIO.
The Jones Act is a federal law modeled after the Federal Employer's Liability Act that provides compensation to Maritime workers who work on both inland waterways and offshore vessels.
Occupational exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos and benzene may lead to illnesses that may be compensated through the above laws or various products liability laws. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, a type of cancer strongly associated with asbestos exposure. Throughout the 1900's, manufacturing industries including ship building, welding, automobile industries, and construction industries often required its workers to use asbestos.
Benzene is a chemical used for many industrial purposes that is known to cause cancer. Those exposed to benzene in the workplace and subsequently diagnosed with certain types of cancers, blood disorders, or other illnesses may have a right to compensation for the medical expenses and pain and suffering. The type of benzene exposure can vary depending on whether the individual is inhaling air around hazardous sites or working with certain chemicals that contain benzene.
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) is known to be associated with exposure to benzene. Under product liability laws, manufacturers and distributors of products containing benzene may be liable for defective products including the failure to warn about known dangers associated with chemicals. Safety-Kleen is a manufacturer of a recycled cleaning solvent 105 that was known to contain benzene and used widely through the United States in the automotive parts industry.