devastated our community, put our families in danger, and jeopardized our future.

Now they need to pay.

Betras, Kopp & Markota is the local law firm big enough to bring them to justice.

Call 330-746-8484, 800-457-2889 or complete and submit this contact form.

How to protect your right to receive the financial compensation you need and deserve...

Don’t rush into anything or make decisions while you are worried, tired, or emotional.
Norfolk Southern, insurance adjusters, contractors, and attorneys may come to your door. Never sign or agree to anything on the spot.
Make sure to read and understand any documents or receipts you are asked to sign.
Use your phone to take a picture of and save anything you do sign.
If you don't understand a document or form DO NOT sign it until you seek and receive advice from BKM or someone who can explain it to you.
Do accept free testing and monitoring provided by government agencies—and maintain a record of all test results.
Do contact BKM by calling 330-746-8484 or emailing us today!

Area impacted by the toxic chemical spill

People living 50 to 60 miles away have been exposed to the toxic brew of dangerous chemicals.
Cars driven in the rain in the days after crash were coated with foul-smelling residue
People entering the Ohio Turnpike in North Lima reported feeling dizzy and light-headed on Monday.
ODNR reports 3,500 fish in four tributaries of the Ohio River have died. The Ohio River is the source of drinking water for 5,000,000 people.

If you live in the region effected by the spill contact BKM at 330-746-8484 or email us TODAY!

At this point we know these dangerous chemicals were emitted into the air, spilled onto the ground and into the water.

1.1 million pounds of vinyl chloride were emitted—more than double the amount released by U.S. industries each year.
Burning vinyl chloride in the controlled release created phosgene gas, a chemical warfare agent banned by the Geneva Convention.
Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether
Ethylhexyl acrylate and isobutylene
Propylene glycol,
Butyl acrylate

Damages could mount as effects from the spill linger for years. Protect your right to receive the compensation you and your family needs and deserves. Contact BKM TODAY!

State and federal officials and Norfolk Southern continue to tell residents everything is fine in the region surrounding the derailment, fire, and toxic chemical spill that has devastated East Palestine, but there is a continuous flow of stories from residents and scientists that raise both doubts about the official storyline and serious concerns about how much danger people are in today and will be in years from now.

For example, Sam Hall, a sophomore studying Wildlife and Fisheries Resource Management at West Virginia University discovered and took video of tens of thousands of dead animals in Leslie Run Creek which is located about one and one-half miles from the crash site.

Hall isn't alone in documenting disastrous impact of the spill. Taylor Holzer runs Parker Dairy, and is registered with ODNR as a fox keeper. He told Channel 19 news that Two of his foxes have died since the derailment, and several others are still very sick.

“Out of nowhere, he just started coughing really hard, just shut down, and he had liquid diarrhea and just went very fast,” Holzer said. Holzer is still busy trying to save his other foxes, but he hopes his story will raise awareness.

Potential damages include but are not limited to:

Health Related
- Physical
- Psychological
- Mental
Lost Wages
Loss of Business Income

Decreased home value
EPA study incidents like this can reduce home values by thousands of dollars and make home difficult to sell
Loss of livestock and pets
Loss of use of vehicles and equipment

Home values in the region may plummet by thousands of dollars as a result of the derailment.

Take these steps to document your existing and future losses:

Maintain all records you now have related to the derailment:
- Timeline of events: when did you leave and return home
- How many days/hours of work were missed
- When you were forced to close and able to reopen your business
- Receipts for lodging, meals, transportation, medical bills
- Pictures
- Videos
Document:
- Any health problems you, family members, and animals including pets and livestock have or are now experiencing.

Effects of the derailment may continue for months or years, so we recommend you begin keeping a diary and note the following moving forward:

Health Problems
Illness or death of Livestock/Pets
Days forced to miss work and lost wages
Expenses including any repairs or cleaning of homes, barns, vehicles, equipment
Contamination of/loss of use of wells

What caused the derailment and toxic chemical spill?

NTSB preliminary finding: Failed wheel bearing or “hotbox” caused fire and derailment. On February 22, 2023 the agency issued its full preliminary report. Read it here.
NS Crew received warning from wayside defect detector but could not stop train before it derailed.
Unnamed NS employees tell CBS News the train broke down at least once, two days prior to the derailment in East Palestine and said its weight and length were excessive and contributed to the breakdown.
Legislative director for a union that represents NS workers questions whether the car had been properly inspected due to a strategy the company had adopted that was said to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Security camera footage from Salem show car on fire 43 minutes before and 20 miles from site of the derailment, fire, and toxic spill.

About Betras, Kopp & Markota: The LOCAL law firm big enough to take on Norfolk Southern and the company's insurers

Founded and headquartered in the Mahoning Valley we have represented thousands of clients in Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania over the past 24 years.
We are the local law firm big enough to take on corporate giants like Norfolk Southern and the railroad's insurers.
Secured numerous multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts from Fortune 500 companies.
We have earned the prestigious "SuperLawyer" designation.
We live here, we practice here, and we are and will be here for you 24-7, 365.

If you live in the region effected by the spill contact BKM at 330-746-8484 or email us TODAY!