For a railroad worker diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, determining whether there is a potential legal claim can require much more than identifying a diagnosis.
A railroad asbestos case can involve employment records, decades-old work histories, railroad equipment, asbestos-containing materials, medical evidence, historical documents, and federal railroad law.
That is why choosing Railroad Asbestos Claims Attorneys with experience investigating occupational asbestos exposure can be important when evaluating a potential claim.
Railroad asbestos cases are often based on events that occurred many years or even decades ago. A former railroad worker may remember working around locomotives, repairing equipment, replacing brake components, or performing maintenance but may not remember the specific manufacturers or materials involved.
An attorney’s job is to investigate those details and determine what evidence may support the claim.
What Are Railroad Asbestos Claims?
Railroad asbestos claims generally involve injuries or diseases associated with occupational asbestos exposure during railroad employment.
Historically, asbestos-containing materials were used in various railroad applications because asbestos could resist heat, fire, and friction.
Sammons & Berry’s railroad asbestos materials identify asbestos-containing products historically associated with railroad equipment and facilities, including insulation, gaskets, brake materials, pipe coverings, fireproofing materials, floor tile, and other products.
A potential claim may involve questions about:
- Where the railroad worker was employed
- What railroad jobs the worker performed
- Which equipment the worker handled
- What materials were present
- How asbestos exposure occurred
- When the exposure occurred
- What medical condition developed
- Whether federal railroad law applies
- Whether the railroad’s negligence contributed to the injury
- What deadlines apply to the claim
Because every railroad worker’s employment history is different, a legal evaluation should be based on the individual facts.
Why Railroad Asbestos Cases Can Be Complicated
Many railroad asbestos claims involve exposure that happened decades before the worker received a diagnosis.
A person may have retired many years ago.
The railroad equipment may no longer be in service.
The railroad facility may have changed.
Records may have been archived.
Coworkers may be difficult to locate.
And the worker may not remember the names of the products used during railroad repairs.
That does not necessarily mean the exposure history cannot be investigated.
An experienced railroad asbestos attorney can identify potential sources of evidence and develop a timeline of the worker’s railroad employment.
Step One: Investigating the Railroad Work History
One of the first things a railroad asbestos attorney may investigate is the worker’s employment history.
Important information can include:
- Railroad employers
- Employment dates
- Job titles
- Railroad divisions
- Railroad yards
- Shops
- Terminals
- Locomotive assignments
- Maintenance locations
- Equipment handled
- Repair responsibilities
- Coworkers
- Supervisors
- Union information
A job title by itself may not tell the complete story.
For example, two railroad employees could have the same job title but perform very different duties.
One worker may have regularly worked around locomotive brakes and insulation.
Another may have performed duties in a location where asbestos-containing materials were not commonly handled.
The details of the actual work performed can therefore become important evidence.
Step Two: Determining How the Worker Was Exposed to Asbestos
After establishing the employment history, an attorney may investigate the circumstances surrounding asbestos exposure.
This can include determining whether the worker:
- Removed insulation
- Installed insulation
- Repaired locomotive equipment
- Worked with brake components
- Repaired steam equipment
- Worked around boilers
- Repaired pipes
- Handled gaskets
- Worked in railroad shops
- Disturbed asbestos-containing materials
- Performed maintenance around asbestos-containing equipment
The goal is to develop a factual picture of the occupational exposure.
The CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry explains that disturbing asbestos-containing materials can release microscopic fibers into the air and that inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to serious diseases.
Step Three: Identifying Railroad Equipment and Products
Railroad asbestos attorneys may also investigate the equipment and products associated with a worker’s job.
This can be particularly important when the exposure occurred many years ago.
A former railroad worker may remember:
“I worked on locomotives.”
But may not remember the manufacturer of every component.
An attorney may investigate historical information about the locomotives, railroad facilities, equipment, and products associated with that work.
Potential evidence may include:
- Equipment records
- Railroad manuals
- Maintenance records
- Product catalogs
- Historical documents
- Railroad photographs
- Safety documents
- Manufacturer information
- Prior litigation records
- Coworker testimony
The purpose is not to guess about the worker’s exposure.
The purpose is to identify evidence that can help establish what the worker encountered during railroad employment.
Step Four: Reviewing the Medical Diagnosis
Medical evidence is another important component of a railroad asbestos claim.
A worker may have been diagnosed with:
- Mesothelioma
- Asbestosis
- Lung cancer
- Pleural disease
- Other asbestos-related conditions
The CDC notes that asbestos exposure can cause both cancer and noncancerous diseases.
An attorney may need medical documentation such as:
- Pathology reports
- Imaging studies
- Physician records
- Pulmonary evaluations
- Cancer treatment records
- Diagnosis reports
- Employment-related medical records
The attorney does not determine whether a disease is medically caused by asbestos.
Medical professionals provide the medical diagnosis and related opinions.
The attorney evaluates how that medical evidence fits into the legal claim.
Step Five: Connecting the Occupational Exposure to the Injury
One of the central issues in a railroad asbestos case can be establishing the connection between the worker’s railroad employment, asbestos exposure, and resulting injury.
That investigation may require combining several categories of evidence.
Employment Evidence
Where did the worker work?
Occupational Evidence
What did the worker do?
Exposure Evidence
What asbestos-containing materials were encountered?
Medical Evidence
What disease or injury was diagnosed?
Historical Evidence
What information exists about the railroad equipment and workplace?
Legal Evidence
What federal or other law applies to the claim?
The stronger the factual record, the more clearly an attorney can evaluate the potential case.
How FELA Can Apply
The Federal Employers’ Liability Act, commonly called FELA, is an important federal law in railroad injury litigation.
Under 45 U.S.C. § 51, a covered railroad can be liable for an employee’s injury when the injury results in whole or in part from the railroad’s negligence.
The statute specifically addresses employees of common carriers by railroad engaged in interstate or foreign commerce.
That means an attorney evaluating a railroad asbestos claim must consider whether the worker and railroad fall within the applicable provisions of FELA.
The precise legal analysis depends on the facts of the individual case.
FELA and Railroad Asbestos Claims
FELA cases can involve questions about the railroad’s conduct and whether negligence contributed to the worker’s injury.
Potential issues can include:
- Workplace safety
- Warnings
- Knowledge of asbestos hazards
- Protective measures
- Equipment conditions
- Work practices
- Exposure circumstances
- Railroad policies
- Historical knowledge
The statutory language provides that liability may exist for an injury resulting in whole or in part from railroad negligence.
Federal courts have addressed FELA claims involving asbestos exposure, including cases involving railroad workers diagnosed with asbestos-related disease.
For example, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Norfolk & Western Railway Co. v. Ayers addressed FELA claims involving railroad employees and asbestos-related disease.
What Evidence Can Help a Railroad Asbestos Case?
There is rarely one document that establishes an entire occupational exposure history.
Instead, attorneys may build the case using multiple pieces of evidence.
Employment Records
These can help establish where and when a worker was employed.
Job Descriptions
These can help establish the type of work the employee performed.
Railroad Records
Historical railroad records may provide information about equipment, facilities, work practices, and maintenance.
Medical Records
Medical records document the diagnosis and treatment history.
Coworker Testimony
Former coworkers may remember the equipment, work areas, materials, or conditions present during the relevant period.
Historical Documents
Old manuals, photographs, product information, and other documents may help establish what materials were used.
Why the Railroad Job Title Is Not Enough
A common mistake is to assume that the job title alone establishes the worker’s asbestos exposure.
It usually does not provide the complete picture.
Consider a railroad machinist.
The title tells you the occupation.
It does not necessarily tell you:
- Which locomotives were serviced
- Which components were repaired
- Which railroad shops were used
- Which materials were handled
- Whether asbestos-containing products were disturbed
- How frequently the work occurred
Those details may become important when investigating a potential claim.
What If the Exposure Happened Before 1980?
Many railroad asbestos cases involve historical exposure.
Sammons & Berry’s published railroad materials describe asbestos-containing products used in railroad equipment and facilities during the steam and diesel eras.
The fact that exposure occurred many years ago does not by itself answer whether a legal claim exists.
Instead, an attorney should evaluate the worker’s employment history, exposure circumstances, diagnosis, applicable law, and potential filing deadlines.
What If the Worker Is Retired?
Retirement does not automatically eliminate the possibility of a legal claim.
In fact, many railroad asbestos cases involve workers who retired years before receiving an asbestos-related diagnosis.
The important issues can include:
- Length of railroad employment
- Job responsibilities
- Exposure history
- Diagnosis
- Timing of the diagnosis
- Available evidence
- Applicable law
- Applicable deadlines
A retired railroad worker should not assume that an old employment history is irrelevant simply because the railroad work ended years ago.
What Documents Should You Gather?
If you are considering a railroad asbestos claim, gather whatever documentation you already have.
Potentially useful records include:
- Railroad employment records
- Retirement records
- Union records
- Railroad identification documents
- Pay records
- Job assignments
- Medical records
- Pathology reports
- Imaging records
- Treatment records
- Prior legal documents
- Occupational health records
Do not delay contacting an attorney simply because you do not have every document.
An attorney can explain which records may be important and what additional investigation may be necessary.
What If You Cannot Remember the Railroad Equipment?
That is not unusual in cases involving decades-old employment.
A railroad worker may remember repairing locomotives without remembering the exact model.
A worker may remember replacing brakes without knowing the manufacturer.
A worker may remember working in a roundhouse without knowing which asbestos-containing products were present.
That is why historical investigation can be important.
An attorney may be able to investigate the railroad, work location, time period, equipment, and job duties to identify additional evidence.
What If You Worked for More Than One Railroad?
A long railroad career may involve several employers.
You may have worked for:
- Multiple railroad companies
- Different railroad divisions
- Different terminals
- Different maintenance facilities
- Different railroad shops
Each position may have involved different exposure circumstances.
A complete employment history can help an attorney determine which periods and locations should be investigated.
Why Medical Records Should Be Preserved
Medical documentation can become particularly important in an asbestos case.
If you have received an asbestos-related diagnosis, preserve copies of your medical records whenever possible.
Important documents can include:
- Original diagnosis
- Pathology
- CT scans
- X-rays
- Pulmonary testing
- Oncology records
- Surgical records
- Treatment records
- Physician statements
Do not discard older medical records simply because they seem unrelated.
An attorney can determine which records are relevant to the legal evaluation.
How Railroad Asbestos Claims Attorneys Investigate
A thorough investigation can involve several stages.
Employment Investigation
The attorney develops the worker’s railroad employment timeline.
Exposure Investigation
The attorney identifies the potential sources and circumstances of asbestos exposure.
Product Investigation
The attorney researches equipment and products associated with the worker’s duties.
Medical Investigation
The attorney reviews the diagnosis and medical evidence.
Legal Investigation
The attorney determines what laws and legal theories may apply.
Evidence Development
The attorney identifies witnesses, documents, historical records, and other evidence that may support the claim.
Case Evaluation
The attorney evaluates the available evidence and discusses potential legal options with the worker.
Questions to Ask Railroad Asbestos Claims Attorneys
Before selecting an attorney, consider asking:
- How much experience do you have with railroad asbestos cases?
- Do you handle FELA claims?
- Do you investigate historical railroad exposure?
- Do you handle cases involving mesothelioma?
- Do you handle asbestosis claims?
- How do you investigate railroad employment histories?
- How do you locate historical exposure evidence?
- What records should I provide?
- What deadlines may apply?
- How does the initial case evaluation work?
These questions can help you understand how the attorney approaches railroad asbestos litigation.
Why Experience With Railroad Cases Matters
Railroad asbestos litigation can involve issues that are different from an ordinary personal injury claim.
The attorney may need to understand:
- Railroad operations
- Locomotives
- Railroad shops
- Maintenance work
- Industrial equipment
- Historical asbestos use
- Occupational exposure
- FELA
- Medical evidence
- Historical documentation
Sammons & Berry’s railroad asbestos practice materials state that the firm’s attorneys, paralegals, and other professionals evaluate, investigate, negotiate, and try railroad asbestos cases.
That type of specialized experience can be relevant when a case involves decades-old railroad employment and asbestos exposure.
Do Not Assume an Old Exposure History Means There Is No Claim
One of the biggest challenges in railroad asbestos cases is the amount of time that may have passed.
You may have worked around asbestos decades ago.
You may have retired years ago.
Your diagnosis may have occurred much later.
The passage of time can make evidence more difficult to locate, which is one reason prompt investigation can be important.
At the same time, the existence of an old railroad job does not automatically establish a legal claim.
The individual circumstances need to be evaluated.
What Should You Do After an Asbestos-Related Diagnosis?
If you are a former or current railroad worker who has received an asbestos-related diagnosis, consider taking several practical steps.
Document Your Railroad Employment
Write down every railroad employer, job title, location, and approximate employment date you remember.
Document Your Work
Describe the equipment you worked on and the maintenance or repair activities you performed.
Document Your Exposure
Write down what asbestos-containing materials you remember seeing, handling, repairing, removing, or disturbing.
Preserve Medical Records
Keep copies of your diagnosis and treatment records.
Preserve Employment Records
Keep retirement, union, employment, and other railroad documents.
Contact a Railroad Asbestos Attorney
A qualified attorney can review the information and determine whether additional investigation is appropriate.
Do Not Try to Reconstruct Everything From Memory Alone
Your memory is an important starting point, but it may not contain every detail from a career that ended decades ago.
Instead of trying to remember every product or equipment manufacturer, write down the facts you do remember.
For example:
Railroad: Name of employer
Years: Approximate employment period
Job: Machinist
Location: Railroad shop or yard
Equipment: Locomotives and railcars
Work: Repairs and maintenance
Materials: Insulation, gaskets, brake components, or other materials remembered
An attorney can use that information as a starting point for further investigation.
Railroad Asbestos Claims Attorneys
If you worked for a railroad and were exposed to asbestos, an asbestos-related diagnosis can raise important legal questions.
The answers may depend on your employment history, the circumstances of your occupational exposure, your medical diagnosis, the available evidence, and the laws that apply to your case.
FELA is an important federal law governing certain railroad employee injury claims, and its application depends on the facts of the individual situation.
The most important step is to have your circumstances evaluated rather than assuming that you do or do not have a claim.
Speak With Railroad Asbestos Claims Attorneys
Sammons & Berry represents railroad workers in asbestos claims and provides case evaluations concerning railroad asbestos exposure.
Learn more about Railroad Workers and Asbestos to review information about historical asbestos exposure in the railroad industry.
You can also review the firm’s Railroad Asbestos Claims Attorneys resources to learn more about potential claims and the evaluation process.
For federal background on the law, 45 U.S.C. § 51 explains the liability provisions of the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.
For medical information about asbestos-related diseases, the CDC/ATSDR Health Effects of Asbestos resource provides current federal health information.
Call Sammons & Berry at 800-519-1440 for a consultation regarding your railroad asbestos claim.
This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Railroad asbestos claims are fact-specific. The availability of a claim, applicable legal theory, filing deadline, and potential recovery depend on the individual circumstances of the case. No result is guaranteed.