How Do I Contact an Attorney to File a Lawsuit against Norfolk Southern?
If you or someone you know has suffered harm related to Norfolk Southern’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, Cory Watson’s experienced environmental attorneys can help. To contact an attorney, call 877-562-0000 or fill out our 100% free case evaluation form.
About the Train Derailment
On the evening of Friday, February 3, 2023, a 141-car Norfolk Southern freight train was carrying dangerous chemicals from Madison County, Illinois to Conway, Pennsylvania. The train was witnessed to be on fire at 8:13 PM, and then around 9:00 PM, the crew received an alarm signal indicating a malfunctioning railcar axle. Shortly after that, approximately 50 cars derailed, including five cars carrying vinyl chloride. The vinyl chloride and other chemicals caught fire and burned continuously for three days.
Vinyl Chloride is Extremely Dangerous
Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas with a slightly sweet smell. Its primary use is to make polyvinyl chloride for use in products like PVC pipes and bottles.
Vinyl chloride is known to cause a variety of long-term and short-term health effects. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), vinyl chloride is a Group A human carcinogen, meaning that vinyl chloride has been definitively linked to the development of cancer in humans who inhale, ingest or have skin contact with it. In particular, vinyl chloride is known to cause multiple forms of liver cancer, as well as brain cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia.
Widespread Contamination has been Reported
To deal with the vinyl chloride remaining in the derailed train cars, Norfolk Southern vented and burned the chemical in a “controlled release.” The smoke from this “controlled release” resulted in a mushroom cloud stretching high up into the atmosphere. Once the smoke could no longer rise higher, it spread horizontally into a thick cloud that stretched for miles around the site. Reports of fumes, sediment, and particulate matter from the derailment and fire have come from areas up to 30 miles from the site. Contamination and damage to local streams and rivers, including notably the Ohio River, occurred from the release of toxic chemicals and water runoff from the derailment. An evacuation order was put into effect within a mile of the train derailment site located at 1020 East Taggart Street.
Do I Have a Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Lawsuit?
Many people were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses, and properties around the area are likely heavily contaminated. If you or someone you know has suffered harm to their person or property related to Norfolk Southern’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, you should contact a Cory Watson attorney immediately.
How to File a Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Lawsuit
If you or someone you know has suffered harm related to Norfolk Southern’s train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, you should contact a Cory Watson environmental attorney for a 100% free case consultation..
Call (877)-562-0000 now or tell us about your case by filling out the contact form on the side of this page.
About Cory Watson Attorneys
Cory Watson Attorneys is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm with offices in Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis, and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm has recovered more than $3 billion for clients across the country. Cory Watson attorneys are frequently at the forefront of major class actions and multidistrict litigations involving dangerous pharmaceuticals, hazardous waste, and product liability and are often appointed to leadership positions in national cases. Firm practice areas include Personal Injury, Product Liability, Environmental Law, Class Action, Asbestos, Business & Commercial Litigation.