Union Tank Car Company

Union Tank Car Company employees exposed to asbestos

The rate of diseases caused by occupational asbestos exposure among former railroad workers is considerably high, as they were exposed to this dangerous mineral on the job during the last century. Unfortunately, Union Tank Car Company is only one of the hundreds of railroad companies that made use of significant amounts of asbestos between the 1920s and the 1980s. Asbestos is a mineral with plenty of convenient and amazing properties, such as extreme heat resistance, inability to conduct electricity, durability, strength, and resistance to chemical corrosion. It was so prevalent in the industry that even employees who were not in charge of maintenance and repair would be exposed to it, although to a lesser degree.

One of the main ways railroad workers would come in contact with asbestos was around roadhouses, railroad shops, and repair shops, where they would cut, sand or smooth materials containing asbestos, which naturally released toxic dust in the air. Conductors and yardmasters were also at risk of asbestos exposure, as asbestos was abundantly used in public driving cabins and carriages in the form of floor tiles and wallboard. The following workers experienced asbestos exposure due to Union Tank Car Company during the last century:

• railroad workers
• electricians
• automotive workers
• conductors
• insulators
• mechanics

Lastly, asbestos would also be present in brake pads and brake linings and clutches, as it would strengthen the components. Nevertheless, with wear and tear, these parts would release toxic fibers that workers inhaled and ingested. Employees who were responsible for the installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of these components had the highest risk of asbestos exposure, as they had no choice but to disturb the products. Cement and gaskets were used as well to seal pipe joints and valves.

Secondary asbestos exposure, a serious concern for the family members of Union Tank Car Company workers

Occurring when a person inhaled or ingested asbestos particles from indirect sources, secondary exposure was very common in the households of families that had a worker who handled asbestos on the job. Because asbestos companies went to unimaginable lengths to cover up the health hazards of asbestos exposure, railroad workers were not required to wear protective equipment on the job, and they were not asked to change their clothes at the end of their shift either. Consequently, they would bring home asbestos fibers on their clothes and their skin and hair on a regular basis. Their wives would mostly be exposed when laundering their work clothes, while their children would breathe in and swallow toxic fibers when greeting the employee.

If you shared a home with a Union Tank Car Company worker and are now suffering from a disease that may be related to asbestos exposure, we advise you to get in touch with our legal team, as our main area of practice is toxic exposure. Our attorneys can help you file a claim with the liable company so that you can recover compensation for your distress. You just have to get in touch with us, explain your situation, and send us copies of basic documents such as your medical records. We will carefully evaluate your case, and if we deem you eligible, we will begin preparing your claim for submission.

Legal assistance in wrongful death asbestos exposure cases for family members

Sadly, many victims of asbestos exposure pass away without benefiting from the financial compensation they deserve. If you are the family member of a person who died of a disease caused by occupational asbestos exposure who had not filed a claim during their lifetime, you have the right to file a wrongful death claim. This way, you can recover some of the money your departed loved one would have been entitled to from the responsible company. Filing a wrongful death claim with our assistance is quite easy, as you will only have to explain your situation and send our legal team the employment and medical records of your family member and their death certificate.

When we have everything we need, our attorneys will thoroughly assess your case, and if they determine that you qualify for filing a wrongful death claim, they will quickly begin working on preparing your claim. Eventually, you will get the largest sum of money possible for your case. Nevertheless, you should know that wrongful death claims have a statute of limitations, which means that you should file yours right after the death of your family member. Otherwise, you risk losing your right to compensation.