One of the hazards many American workers have to deal with while on the job is exposure to toxic chemicals. And if your employer isn’t up to date with the federal safety regulations, there is a real danger of toxic exposure in that worker’s future. When an accident does occur at work, workers compensation will only cover so much of your accident. But if you’re not on the job and are exposed, what are your options? What you will need is legal assistance to help you get the compensation that you deserve after such an accident.
For more than 35 years, Jersey City law firm the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone has been helping toxic exposure clients throughout New Jersey. Our toxic tort lawyer is familiar with all of New Jersey’s personal injury laws and will aggressively fight for your rights with the parties liable for your injuries and, if necessary, take your case to a court of law.
Common Types of Toxic Exposure
Chemical exposure isn’t just daily use of the harsh chemicals that you may clean your home with. Most of these toxic substances are a result of living and working in an industrial atmosphere. These chemicals can enter a person’s body in four different ways:
- Inhaling the substance
- Contact through the skin
- Ingesting or eating the substance
- Injecting the substance
Some of these hazardous poisons may not affect you at first; but down the road, you may develop a debilitating illness such as cancer, especially if you’ve been exposed to these chemicals day in and day out. Here are a few of the more common types of exposure that can happen while you’re on the job:
- Asbestos – When you are exposed to asbestos, you breathe in silica particles which cause scar tissue to develop in your lungs. This could lead to either lung cancer or mesothelioma.
- Water Contamination – Contamination can be caused several things like septic systems, improper disposal of household chemicals, landfills, and agricultural runoff.
- Soil Contamination – This happens to the soil near a body of contaminated water. You can easily be exposed through skin contact, such as gardening or even walking through the soil, inhalation, or even ingestion.
- Pesticides – Although pesticides may be effective in killing pesky bugs, it can also cause serious side effects in humans.
- Metal Poisoning – Exposure to such metals as lead, mercury, and manganese can cause serious illness.
- Toxic Mold – Not the kind of mold you would find on your stale bread. This mold can be found in homes, commercial buildings, and schools. It can cause major illnesses such as Stachybotrys atra, Aspergillus, and Penicillium
Who’s Responsible for My Toxic Tort Claim?
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has established a set of regulations that protect employees from toxic exposure. Depending on what industry and/or what chemical you are handling, the agency has a list of regulations on how each substance should be handled during the course of your work. In addition to these regulations, all employees are required to be properly trained and have the proper protection such as respirators or clothing to have as little exposure as possible.
Yet employers are always looking to cut costs. And unfortunately, worker safety is sometimes thrown to the wayside in cost-saving measures. This leads to a great chance of toxic exposure for the worker.
But what if you weren’t exposed at work? Other parties that could be responsible for your injuries include:
- The manufacturer of the product
- The supplier of the product
- Any contractors or other users who had used the product
- Property owners who use the product in the property
Hire an Experienced Jersey City Toxic Tort Lawyer Now
It’s important when you file a toxic exposure claim that you get as much evidence as possible to have a successful outcome. Make sure you have your doctor check you out and give you a proper diagnosis. Also, make sure you get as much information as you can on the chemicals that you were exposed to.
If you were exposed to toxic and hazardous chemicals that caused you to become ill, don’t delay. Contact the New Jersey law firm Law Offices of Anthony Carbone now for a free consultation.
