EAST PALESTINE TRAIN DERAILMENT LAWSUITS

On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern freight train consisting of approximately 150 cars derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Of the total number of train cars, 53 were affected by the derailment. Twenty of those cars contained hazardous materials including vinyl chloride, ethylene glycol, ethylhexyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, and isobutylene. Some of the train cars caught fire and burned continuously for a period of three days, while others spilled their loads into an adjacent ditch feeding Sulphur Run, a stream connecting to a series of streams and creeks that flow directly into the Ohio River, less than 20 miles south of the derailment site.

Residents of the area were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses due to the derailment as well as the subsequent actions taken by Norfolk Southern Railroad to burn off dangerous chemicals and prevent explosions. In an official news release dated February 6, 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine made the following warning statement:

“The vinyl chloride contents of five rail cars are currently unstable and could potentially explode, causing deadly disbursement of shrapnel and toxic fumes. To alleviate the risk of uncontrollable shrapnel from an explosion, Norfolk Southern Railroad is planning a controlled release of the vinyl chloride. According to Norfolk Southern Railroad, the controlled release process involves the burning of the rail cars' chemicals, which will release fumes into the air that can be deadly if inhaled. Based on current weather patterns and the expected flow of the smoke and fumes, anyone who remains in the red affected area is facing grave danger of death. Anyone who remains in the yellow impacted area is at a high risk of severe injury, including skin burns and serious lung damage.”

Residents of the East Palestine area and surrounding communities have begun filing lawsuits against Norfolk Southern Railroad claiming the train derailment and its aftermath, including the company’s decision to burn the vinyl chloride, rather than disposing of it safely, exposed them to highly toxic chemicals. This has subjected them to long-term health risks, decline of property values, and loss of income and wages.

Attorney Ethan Vessels is accepting East Palestine Train Derailment cases. If you believe you have been injured or suffered losses due to this derailment, please contact Ethan Vessels for a free, no obligation consultation. He can be reached by calling 740-374-5346 or sending a message here from this website.

Vinyl chloride is a manmade chemical used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products such as pipes, wire and cable coatings, car parts, housewares, and packing materials. Typically, vinyl chloride is a gas that burns easily. At very cold temperatures, it becomes a liquid. The chemical is highly toxic and may cause the following health problems:

• Liver Damage
• Nerve Damage
• Immune Deficiencies
• Decreased Blood Flow
• Elevated Cancer Risks

The International Agency for Research on Cancer lists vinyl chloride as a carcinogenic. People who are exposed to the chemical for prolonged periods are at risk of developing liver cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, and different types of blood cancer. 

Most exposure to vinyl chloride occurs when people breathe contaminated air. If a water supply is contaminated, vinyl chloride can enter household air when the water is used for showering, cooking, or laundry. People can also be exposed to vinyl chloride if they drink or cook with contaminated water.

When people are injured by chemical contamination, they turn to Attorney Ethan Vessels for help. For more than sixteen years, people have been contacting Ethan Vessels for legal advice, guidance, and representation when they developed different types of cancers or other serious health problems because their living environment was contaminated.

Lawsuits involving toxic chemical contamination can be highly complex and difficult to prove. That’s why an attorney with Ethan’s experience, reputation, and resources is needed. Ethan typically handles these cases with co-counsel at no additional expense to the client.

Ethan is a proven trial attorney who adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards. His focus is representing those who have been injured due to the negligence of others, including companies who contaminate the air and water.

If you believe you have suffered injuries and damages because of the East Palestine Train Derailment, please contact Ethan Vessels for a free, no obligation consultation. He will answer all your questions and provide you with the feedback you need to decide whether you should pursue a claim and the amount of time you have remaining to file a lawsuit. The meeting and its details will be kept strictly confidential.

When he accepts these types of cases, he typically works on a contingent fee basis, which means there is no fee for his legal services until and unless a settlement or verdict is reached.