Virginia (VA) Uranium Mines May Lead to Cancer for Miners and Railroad Workers

Rick is a Virginia injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

11/17/2011
Richard N. Shapiro
Comments (0)

Norfolk, VA Personal Injury Attorney Reports: Virginia Uranium Mines May Lead to Cancer for Railroad Workers

The battle between uranium companies who want to mine uranium in Virginia (VA) and proponents of mining continued at a recent meeting in Richmond. Proponents worry that the mining of the radioactive uranium, along with the storage of tons of waste could possibly contaminate Lake Gaston, which supplies much of the water to Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake, VA.

In previous litigation involving cancers in railroad transportation workers in the Tennessee (TN) area, one of the issues at trial was whether the railroad followed proper industrial safety steps in surveying the train cars after they had contained radioactive contaminated scrap metal. Federal railroad regulations relating to radioactive contamination requires that railroads, or their suppliers or contractors, properly survey train cars radiologically before they are placed in use to hold any other type of cargo. This makes a ton of sense, but also search to protect railroad workers that are switching these cars and working on a daily basis in close proximity to radioactive cargo, which obviously may leave radioactive contamination on the train car.

For years the railroad involved in this previous case never did one radiological survey of that train car even though it knew it was dealing in what it called low-level radioactive scrap metal. This is why industrial safety protections are very important, but when you are dealing with carcinogenic substances like radioactive waste or scrap, dangers must be evaluated against the benefits of the business itself.

As a Virginia railroad injury and FELA attorney, I have represented railroad workers who developed cancers such as lung, brain, colon and blood after prolonged workplace exposures to radioactive substances and radiation sources such as uranium- and plutonium-contaminated scrap metal and wastes. I'm worried about the long-term effects this mine would have on VA mine and railroad workers. I know that finding alternative energy sources is important to the entire nation, but at what cost?

Radioactive contamination, also called radiation, can be in several forms including alpha and gamma isotopes. The characteristics of these types of isotopes and how they can damage the body's cells, is a fairly complicated discussion but needless to say ionizing radiation can damage cells and can lead to cancer. If you are a railroad employee who has been injured on the job or contracted cancer please read our free consumer guide Learn What Railroad Companies Do Not Want Injured Workers To Know!.

CT

Category: Railroad Injury/FELA

Labels: cancer from railroad FELA/railroad injury railroad attorney uranium in Virginia VA FELA/Railroad attorney Virginia (VA) railroad attorney

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have handled hundreds of Federal Employers' Liability Act claims for railroad workers hurt or made ill while doing their rail jobs. We also have represented many people injured in train accidents. Please take a few moments to review our railroad injury case results. Our primary offices are in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if you've been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been included among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008, and have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill. Our attorneys have even been included in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009.

We would like to send you one of our free reports about railroad injury and FELA cases, including Dos & Don'ts When Injured at a Railroad: Your FELA Rights and What Railroad Claim Agents Agents Won't Tell You (But You Must Know).

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer a free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.

There are no comments.

Search Our Site

Get help Now!

Practice Areas

Norfolk, VA Personal Injury Attorney Reports: Virginia Uranium Mines May Lead to Cancer for Railroad Workers

Post a comment