RESIDENTS and businesses affected by the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment have until Thursday night to file their claims for compensation.
As part of a $600 million settlement following the February 3, 2023 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train, those affected can apply for direct payments, personal injury, and business loss claims.
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The settlement is designed to compensate those who experienced any kind of injury, ailment, or loss due to the derailment.
The Norfolk Southern train known as 32N, which railroad workers commonly referred to as “32 Nasty” because of its cargo and the way it was arranged, according to Vice.
This train was carrying five cars of oil and eleven cars with more than a million pounds of toxic and hazardous chemicals when it derailed 50 miles outside of Pittsburgh.
Thirty-eight of the train’s 150 cars plowed into each other and thundered to the ground.
A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board blames the derailment on a wheel bearing that overheated, caught fire, and failed.
Some of the cars, carrying toxic chemicals such as vinyl chloride, butyl acrylate, isobutylene, ethylene glycol, and ethylhexyl acrylate when it derailed, then burst into flames and damaged another 12 cars.
The chemicals leaked from the train into the air, soil, and two small creeks that ran through the town, killing over 43,000 fish and other animals in mass by February 24.
Those who were physically present within a 10-mile radius of the derailment site may be eligible for personal injury compensation.
Those within 20 miles of the derailment site, could be eligible for compensation based on various factors.
This includes the person’s location at the time of the incident, household size, acreage, duration of displacement, property damage, and whether they experienced chemical exposure or personal injury.
The effects of breathing in these chemicals can cause many severe and long-lasting harm to not just the environment, but human health, especially in cases where people were exposed to the levels leaked from this derailment.
For instance, breathing in vinyl chloride has been linked to health issues such as liver and nervous system damage, as well as an increased risk of cancer.
Butyl acrylate exposure can cause respiratory issues and long-term liver and kidney damage.
Ethylhexyl acrylate and ethylene glycol both can cause skin and eye irritation as well as nausea, and sore throats, while isobutylene exposure can lead to coughing, difficulty breathing, and even death.
To be eligible for a settlement payout, you must submit your claim by the August 22, 2024, deadline.
Claims can be filed through the official settlement website or by visiting the East Palestine Settlement Center in person.
If you have already filed a Direct Claim but overlooked the Personal Injury Payment for any household members, they can still participate and receive compensation.
For those who need help with the claims process, the East Palestine Settlement Center is available to assist.
It’s highly recommended to schedule an appointment by calling 833-425-3400, as walk-ins will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.
The East Palestine Settlement Center is also available to take questions or help file a claim.
You can contact the Settlement Administrator via phone at 833-425-3400 or by email at [email protected].
Whether dealing with property damage, business disruptions, or personal injuries, eligible claimants are encouraged to act quickly before the deadline passes.
Claims must be filed by August 22, at 11:59 PM ET.
Don’t miss your chance to claim your share of the settlement.
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