Toxic Substance Injury Claims in Georgia
Representing Victims with Respiratory Effects, Systemic Illness, and Brain Injuries
Brooks Law Firm of Savannah, Georgia has represented workers and other individuals who suffered disabling illness caused by chemical exposure or inhaling or ingesting other toxins such as asbestos fibers, lead paint, or toxic mold.
Do I Have a Case? If you or a loved one has been injured by exposure to a dangerous chemical, contact Certified Trial Specialist Eugene C. Brooks at (800)-296-7983 for a free consultation and evaluation of your Workers' Compensation claim or potential lawsuit against the manufacturer.
Gene Brooks has recovered significant compensation in toxic mold and chemical exposure claims for many injured workers and citizens of Savannah, Coastal Georgia and statewide. In practice for 25 years, he has built his career as a successful personal injury trial lawyer in these very types of cases. Today he handles a wide range of claims for injuries caused by exposure to toxic chemicals.
Recovering Damages for the Serious Effects of Toxic Chemical Exposure
Chemicals are a part of modern life and do provide benefits to society. However, we are increasingly being exposed to toxic chemicals. A chemical's toxicity refers to its ability to damage an organ system (such as the kidneys, liver, or brain) or disrupt a chemical process (such as blood formation). Injuries resulting from exposure to harmful chemicals can be either acute (appearing suddenly usually after exposure to a large amount of the toxic chemical) or chronic (developing after repeated exposure to relatively low levels of a toxic substance).
There are a number of ways in which a person can be exposed to a toxic chemical or harmful toxin. Asbestos fibers, toxic paint fumes, lead dust, and other chemicals can be inhaled through the lungs. Lead paint, pesticides, and other chemicals can be ingested by mouth, especially by young children. Some chemicals, such as solvents, paints, and benzene can be absorbed through the skin. Toxic chemicals can cause a wide range of serious health effects including cancer, asthma, lung disease, neurological damage, brain damage, skin disease, developmental disabilities in children, and even death.
Worker's Compensation / Occupational Disease
Occupational disease claims are a subcategory of worker's comp claims with special rules that apply. Occupational disease claims include but are not limited to the following:
- Asbestosis (lung disease) and mesothelioma (lung cancer), both directly related to breathing asbestos fibers
- Silicosis (from inhaling silica dust)
- Other occupational lung disease and cancers
- Solvent induced neuropathy (brain damage from exposure to benzene, formaldehyde, and other industrial chemical vapors)
Mr. Brooks is well versed in the specific criteria required under Worker's Compensation to prove that the exposure was work-related. Workers' compensation provides minimal income compensation and limited medical treatment as a safety net for injured employees.
The federal workers' compensation law provides more benefits than State workers' compensation. The federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (LHWCA) applies for workers injured at the port or on ships at the docks. In some circumstances, a worker can file both state and longshore claims.
Toxic and Chemical Exposure Not Related to Work
In addition to workers' compensation benefits, he pursues third-party occupational disease lawsuits against manufacturers or other third parties (other than the employer) whose negligence led to the chemical or toxic exposure. These suits enable permanently disabled workers to collect additional damages for lost income potential, medical care, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life.
Brooks Law Firm also represents individuals who have suffered health effects from contamination, pollution, hazardous wastes, or industrial byproducts:
- Toxic mold — If poor construction methods or inferior materials were used to build your home, you may have a claim for damages if the resulting moisture intrusion enabled potentially deadly molds (aspergillum, penicillium, fusarium, or Stachybotrys ("black mold") to thrive. We have obtained significant verdicts against builders in defective construction lawsuits.
- Lead paint — Many older homes and apartment buildings still contain lead-based paint, which was outlawed 30 years ago by federal law. Lead paint poisoning still occurs when paint peels away, exposing occupants to lead dust, which causes brain damage, respiratory illness, and other health problems. It is especially harmful to the developing brains of children.
- Chemical exposure — Mr. Brooks developed a special focus early in his career in injuries caused by formaldehyde exposure. Though those cases are now rare, he still represents individuals harmed by air or groundwater contamination from solvents, benzene, PCBs, mercury, or other industrial pollutants.
Brooks Law Firm is adept at demonstrating the causal link between toxic or chemical exposures and the resulting health effects or wrongful death. lWe have access to experts nationwide who can help prove liability and win the maximum compensation in your case.
Contact our Savannah toxic exposure lawyer for a free consultation and case evaluation to determine whether you have a solid claim for occupational disease benefits or a lawsuit against the manufacturer. You can reach Mr. Brooks at (800)-296-7983.
