Maximum Compensation When Exposure to Toxic Chemicals Causes Injuries

Businesses are relying on an increasingly complex array of chemicals to accomplish everything from cleaning to pest control to aroma marketing. Exposure to these chemicals can often lead to inhalation and exposure injuries that can cause permanent damage to the lungs and lead to conditions such as cancer.

Sometimes, the exposure damage occurs slowly over time as toxic chemicals build up in the system. Other times, an accident can lead to sudden damage from a massive inhalation and exposure incident. In either type of situation, a Tallahassee personal injury lawyer can help you recover compensation for your injuries when someone’s irresponsible or unethical behavior causes inhalation or exposure injuries.

At Searcy Denney, we have over 45 years of experience obtaining full compensation for pain, suffering, distress, and other losses caused when businesses get greedy or sloppy and cause harm to people who happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. We know how to work effectively to ensure that accident victims receive damages to account for all the ways the injuries affect their lives.

Exposure Can Occur in Numerous Ways

Dangerous chemicals come in a staggering array of formats, so they can attack the body in many different ways. A hazardous substance may be used in the form of a:

• Mist
• Dust
• Solid
• Vapor
• Spray
• Liquid

Sometimes, these substances have a distinctive odor, but often, they are not easy to detect by sight or smell. If injuries are caused by a sudden exposure, referred to as acute, symptoms may be evident right away. When injuries result from repeated exposure to harmful substances over a period of time, known as chronic exposure, then it may be much more difficult to trace the symptoms to the exposure because the onset is much more gradual. At Searcy Denney, we often deal with situations where long-term exposure leads to serious illnesses or cancers that can be traced to toxic exposure.

A Tallahassee personal injury lawyer experienced in dealing with inhalation and exposure injuries may be able to pinpoint the problem and identify those responsible for the exposure. Sometimes, a business is negligent in the use of a chemical they know or should know to exercise caution in using. Other times, the producer of a product fails to provide proper warnings, and they can be held responsible through a product liability claim. In still other situations, companies are negligent in disposing of toxic substances and members of the public come into contact with them.

Symptoms of Injuries Caused by Inhalation and Exposure

Toxic substances can affect all parts of the body, so it is not always obvious when a problem is caused by exposure. Some symptoms we have seen include:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chemical burns
• Chest pain
• Lightheadedness
• Headache
• Fatigue

Unfortunately, in cases of acute exposure, the victim may collapse and experience convulsions, causing further harm to the body. But many times, symptoms of a condition like silicosis or leukemia are attributed to allergies or viruses and ignored until the condition becomes too severe to treat. If a doctor ignores your symptoms even after you have explained the dangerous exposure you have been subjected to, you could potentially have a claim for medical malpractice.

Examples of Toxic Substances Known to Cause Injuries

While the array of dangerous chemicals that injure the body if inhaled, touched, ingested or otherwise absorbed into your body is practically endless, here are some examples often seen by a Tallahassee personal injury lawyer:

• Benzene: Used to make plastics, benzene can damage bone marrow and interfere with your body’s ability to make red blood cells. Exposure can cause anemia and conditions that lead to excessive bleeding and bruising. It can also weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to other illnesses, including cancer. Benzene is found in automobile exhaust and cigarette smoke.
• Asbestos: An extremely common insulation material, asbestos is found in ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, and automotive brakes. Inhaling asbestos fibers causes small cuts throughout the lungs that grow worse over time. Symptoms may not develop until years after exposure. The asbestos particles remain in the body and can cause cancer and other illnesses not only in the lungs but also in the liver, kidneys, esophagus, and other parts of the body.
• Vinyl Chloride: Used to make PVC, vinyl chloride forms the base of a wide variety of products. Exposure to the gas can quickly cause dizziness or drowsiness that could trigger other injuries. Long-term exposure often causes damage to the liver, nervous system, and immune system.
• Lead: A component in paint and other common products, lead dust causes poisoning that leads to serious brain damage when ingested or inhaled.

A wide variety of toxic chemicals often contaminate drinking water in homes, schools, and workplaces. Long-term ingestion can lead to a variety of injuries. Sometimes, employees and their customers are unwittingly exposed to toxic chemicals in beauty salons. Exposure to toxic substances is also a risk in the medical field, where improper use of chemicals or products rushed to market without adequate testing can lead to damage throughout the body.

Talk to Searcy Denney if You Suspect Inhalation and Exposure Injuries

While exposure to dangerous chemicals often occurs in industrial worksites, the substances can be transported to affect family members and those in other settings. Toxic chemicals also harm consumers and home residents exposed when businesses handle chemicals improperly.

At Searcy Denney, we’ve seen the damage these substances have caused to people in a wide array of circumstances. We know how to investigate to prove that the negligent practices of an individual or business caused exposure and inhalation injuries. However, the investigation takes time, so it is best to consult an attorney as soon as you become aware of an illness that could be caused by the exposure you’ve experienced. A Tallahassee personal injury lawyer on our team could work to recover compensation to meet your medical needs, make up for income lost due to reduced work capacity, and provide for future concerns. In addition, we can fight for fair compensation for your suffering, anguish, and loss of enjoyment of aspects of your life.

To find out how we may be able to help, call us at 888-549-7011 or contact us online to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and case evaluation.