Toxic exposure events can cause serious injuries or illness. Negligent companies that dump hazardous waste in the community or allow dangerous chemicals in their workplaces without proper safety protocols can often be held accountable for their harmful actions. However, toxic exposure laws are complicated. A skilled legal team can provide guidance as you seek compensation for your damages or injuries, drastically increasing your chances of success.
The law firm of Shrader & Associates, L.L.P., is here to provide the legal representation you need for your claim. Our exposure attorneys help victims of toxic exposure understand their options, develop their cases, and seek justice against irresponsible individuals and businesses. If you suspect you have suffered from toxic exposure to a dangerous substance, contact our office for a free initial consultation today.
What Is a Toxic Exposure Claim?
Toxic exposure claim are filed when a person falls ill after coming into contact with hazardous waste, harmful chemicals, or other dangerous substances. Harmful substances may have gotten on a person’s skin or been inhaled or ingested. Though the details of the toxic exposure may vary, the victims in toxic exposure claims all suffered harm or fell ill.
Industrial workers are frequently exposed to dangerous chemicals on the job. They may be required to use toxic substances such as benzene, asbestos, and pesticides regularly. Frequent contact with hazardous chemicals increases the risk of accidental exposure. Though safety guidelines may be in place, a victim’s coworkers may fail to follow guidelines with fidelity, especially when storing and moving toxic materials.
Proving negligence in toxic exposure cases can be difficult. Defendants often claim that the person was responsible for their own exposure. However, a skilled toxic exposure lawyer will investigate the situation and collect all relevant evidence to demonstrate how the at-fault parties are liable for the victim’s illness and related expenses.
Common Kinds of Toxic Exposure Claims
Toxic exposure claims are frequently filed by individuals who were harmed in the line of military duty, by those exposed at their workplace, or by people in a community surrounding an industrial accident. Residents living near a manufacturing or mining operation may also have a claim against companies that fail to dispose of their hazardous waste properly. In recent years, derailed trains and freight truck accidents have also led to harmful spills of hazardous chemicals
Some of the most common claims our firm handles involve asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of fine fibers that can be inhaled or ingested. Known for its insulating properties and extensive use in manufacturing, asbestos was identified as a dangerous substance by scientists as early as 1924. The most common illness linked to asbestos is mesothelioma, which is almost exclusively associated with asbestos exposure.
Who Is at Risk for Toxic Exposure?
Many industries use dangerous chemicals and substances, including those that mine harmful materials. Asbestos, for example, harmed people who worked in asbestos mines. Once the asbestos material left the mine, high-heat manufacturing workers were exposed as they manufactured products that used asbestos as a component, including insulation for pipes, safety equipment, and construction materials. These products were then sold and distributed for use in a multitude of industries, exposing millions of workers to the harmful substance.
Jobs with frequent incidents of toxic exposure include:
- Asbestos abatement
- Automobile manufacturing
- Chemical manufacturing
- Commercial and residential construction
- Demolition
- Drywall installation
- Electrical work
- Firefighting
- Metalworking
- Military service
- Oil refinement
- Pipefitting and plumbing
- Power generation
- Railroads
- Hazardous chemical cleanup
- Shipbuilding
Family members of workers in these industries are also at risk for exposure. Employees may unknowingly transport harmful substances home on their clothes or equipment. In the case of industrial spills or accidents, the materials contaminate the air, water, or soil, exposing anyone in the area. Anyone who suspects they were exposed to toxic substances deserves the chance to discover whether their illness is related to someone else’s negligence and to seek compensation when possible.
Symptoms of Toxic Chemical Exposure and Common Toxic Exposure Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all body systems and organs can be affected by toxic substance exposure, including the lungs, liver, kidneys, skin, reproductive organs, heart, and nervous system. Victims may mistake the health effects of their toxic exposure injuries for other medical conditions. Common symptoms of toxic exposure, such as shortness of breath or a persistent cough, may be attributed to work stress or seasonal allergies rather than the start of a serious illness.
Those who served overseas as military veterans may have been exposed to dangerous chemical weapons as part of their duties, though the symptoms of their illness may not have begun until the person has returned to the United States. Depending on the hazardous substance, each person’s symptoms will be different, but here are some of the most common exposure illnesses our law firm manages:
Benzene Exposure
Benzene is a colorless, flammable liquid used to make plastics, pesticides, drugs, and detergents. Exposure to benzene can damage the marrow inside your bones, affecting your body’s ability to produce the red blood cells that carry oxygen to your body. Benzene exposure can result in conditions such as anemia and excessive bruising or bleeding.
Benzene exposure also weakens the immune system, and has been linked to a higher risk of cancer, including: :
- Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML): This disease severely affects the bone marrow and blood, and can take many years to appear.
- Aplastic anemia: This blood cell disease can be the first indication that a patient may develop other circulatory system cancers.
- Lymphomas: Lymph nodes circulate white blood cells through the body, allowing cancer in these areas to quickly spread to other organs and systems.
- Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS): These blood and bone marrow diseases most commonly occur in patients over 60 years of age.
Exposure can happen at work, but most people will come into contact with benzene by inhaling automotive exhaust or cigarette smoke.
Asbestos Exposure
Nearly everyone alive has had some level of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was used in ceiling tiles for schools and offices, insulation for manufacturing plants, and even as a component in auto braking and transmission systems. Not surprisingly, one of the top sources of toxic substance lawsuits in the United States is asbestos exposure, which is linked to many serious illnesses, including:
- Asbestosis: When inhaled, asbestos fibers cause small cuts to lung tissue, causing scar tissue that makes breathing more difficult. This treatable condition develops over many years, and patients may not show symptoms until ten or more years after they are exposed.
- Lung cancer: This lung disease is caused by mutations that impact cell division in the lungs. About 80% of lung cancer patients develop non-small cell lung cancer, which grows more slowly than small-cell lung cancer.
- Mesothelioma: This aggressive cancer is almost exclusively linked with asbestos exposure. There is no cure, although numerous new treatments are being developed to limit the effects. The disease attacks the lining (mesothelium) of the lungs, abdominal cavity, and heart.
- Other cancers: Because asbestos fibers never leave the body, tiny particles can end up in the bloodstream and cause cancer in the esophagus, gallbladder, kidneys, liver, breast tissue, prostate, and testicles. They may also lead to lymphoma and leukemia.
Similar to asbestos, silica particles can also travel through the air and damage lungs, causing cuts and inflammation. The resulting lung disease is called silicosis and is incurable. Many patients do not show symptoms until a decade or more after exposure, and many require a lung transplant to recover.
Vinyl Chloride Exposure
Vinyl chloride is an artificial gas that is colorless, burns easily, and is unstable at high temperatures. It is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the base for a wide variety of plastic products, such as plumbing pipes. Those who work in manufacturing plants are at high risk of exposure to this gas, and even breathing it for short periods can cause dizziness or drowsiness.
If you have suffered long-term exposure, you could develop any of the following conditions:
- Brain cancer
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
- Permanent damage to liver function
- Weakened immune system
- Nervous system damage
General Symptoms of Toxic Exposure
Other common health problems victims may experience after exposure to any toxic materials include birth defects, skin rashes, and diseases of the liver or kidneys. Other common symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Coughing
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
Understanding the Potential Value of Your Toxic Exposure Claim
Many diseases resulting from toxic exposure take a long time to appear. Many times, our clients have suffered for years before they receive a definite diagnosis. Many have spent a tremendous amount of money on medical care and related expenses.
Victims of toxic exposure deserve to have their damages recovered. While each case is different, our attorneys can provide an estimate of your claim’s potential value after carefully evaluating the evidence and circumstances. You deserve compensation for not only your economic losses (which have a fixed price) but also your non-economic damages (pain and suffering). Some common damages we help our clients seek include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Chemotherapy bills
- Doctor visits
- Emotional distress
- Fear, embarrassment, and isolation
- Hospital charges
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Lost wages and benefits
- Mental anguish
- Rehabilitation and therapy bills
- Surgery and transplant expenses
- Travel costs associated with treatment
During our investigation, we may determine that your damages are larger or smaller than initially expected. Throughout your case, we keep you updated on any changes or developments so you can focus on your treatment. With Shrader & Associates, you can rely on our experience and tenacity to fight for what you deserve.
How the Exposure Lawyers at Shrader & Associates Help Victims of Toxic Exposure
Our firm has managed thousands of toxic exposure claims over the last two decades. We listen to your circumstances during a free initial case review and then provide our best advice on how to proceed with your claim.
Shrader & Associates has the experience, training, and background to forcefully negotiate and litigate your insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against those responsible for your exposure. When your medical bills are piling up, you need trusted guidance from a skilled legal advisor to pursue the compensation you deserve. If you have suffered the loss of a family member due to illnesses or injuries caused by toxic exposure, our team can help to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of their heirs.
With experience in both large-scale toxic tort efforts and individual cases, we have used our award-winning and respected approach to secure billions in jury awards and settlements for our clients in toxic exposure, product liability, and commercial litigation claims.
Schedule a Free Consultation With the Toxic Exposure Attorneys at Shrader & Associates
When you are already burdened with a devastating disease, the complexities of insurance forms and legal filings are the last thing you need. Put your case into the hands of skilled toxic exposure attorneys who will manage these tasks for you.
At Shrader & Associates, we focus on building a strong attorney-client relationship, starting with your free case evaluation. Whether you hire us or not, we provide an honest assessment of your claim, along with trustworthy advice on your next steps. When you choose our law firm to represent you, you can feel confident that we are committed to achieving the best possible outcome for your situation.
We take cases from across the United States and can help you meet critical deadlines, such as the statutes of limitations. In general, you have between two and three years to file your case after your diagnosis. If you believe you or a loved one is the victim of toxic exposure, contact us through our online form or by calling to arrange a free consultation today.