Maybe you notice an odd smell in or around your home after installing carpet or other renovation. Or it could be a chemical that’s used at work that you wouldn’t normally use in your daily job activity that you accidentally inhaled. It could even be something your doctor prescribed, or a product you bought that exposed you to something toxic. Now you or a member of your family is ill, and you don’t understand how or why.
Toxic exposures and environmental injuries can happen anywhere. You may not realize you’ve been exposed for some time afterward until you begin exhibiting symptoms. Through no fault of your own, you’ve been made ill by the negligence of another party.
People exposed to hazardous chemicals may be left with long-term health problems that significantly reduce their quality of life. Many people lose their lives after an exposure. A personal injury lawsuit against companies who allow this to happen holds them responsible for their actions.
Also called a “toxic tort,” these exposures can affect one or a few people, or a large group of people, such as a neighborhood or apartment complex. These are just some of the many ways to experience a toxic environmental injury:
If you suspect that you or someone you love has suffered a toxic exposure or other environmental injury, speak with one of our attorneys to discuss your case.
Injuries
Damage from toxic exposure can lead to a range of injuries that may not appear for months or years. At first, symptoms like breathing problems or skin irritation appear, but continued exposure can lead to more serious problems such as:
Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses may take as long as 20 to 50 years to exhibit symptoms after exposure.
Additionally, homeowners may experience a loss of property value if they live near sites with toxic waste, gas and other extractions, or other environmental hazards.
Damages (Compensation)
Becoming seriously ill means two things: you need medical care and you are likely unable to work. If a toxic chemical is the cause, filing an environmental injury claim can help you get the compensation you need for:
If you or your loved ones have suffered medical issues from a toxic exposure, the next step is to investigate and determine the responsible party or parties. To succeed with a suit for toxic and environmental injuries, a plaintiff must prove that a defendant owed a duty of care to them, then breached that duty and caused the damages to the plaintiff.
Because this kind of toxic exposure leads to significant medical problems, including long-term illness with considerable convalescence and even permanent disability, a lawsuit can help victims recover substantial compensation for these and other damages.
Every state has different limits on how long you have to file a lawsuit for a personal injury like this one. But if you’ve only recently been diagnosed with something from a toxic exposure, you may believe (or be told) that the statute of limitations has run out and you can’t file a claim. That may not necessarily be the case.
In many states, the statutes indicate that the clock begins when you actually discover the injury. In other words, the statute starts on the date you begin experiencing symptoms from the exposure, not when you are diagnosed with an illness.
Filing a personal injury claim is one of the few ways that a person who is hurt or sick from toxic exposure can recover needed compensation for medical and other expenses and lost wages. We work hard to ensure that our clients are well represented and benefit from legal counsel, including getting justice and the help they need.
