Toxic Poisoning Lawsuits and How A Riverside Attorney Can Help

An attorney in Riverside explains that unfortunately toxic substances are everywhere around us, from lead to benzene, from vinyl chloride to carbon monoxide and asbestos. All of these substances can place individuals at grave risk from serious illness and even death. The sad thing about a death that has been caused by toxic poisoning is that it may have taken years for the illness to get hold and as a result it can prove very difficult to win a wrongful death claim.

The good thing is (if you can take some comfort from this) that as the years have gone by there is ever growing medical evidence regarding the risks from over exposure to toxic substances. On top of this, there have been many high profile cases and as a result judges, juries and lawyers are fully aware of the lengths that some unscrupulous employers and manufacturers of these products will go to disguise the said risks. If you or a loved one has contracted an illness or a loved one has sadly passed away due to toxic exposure, then it is imperative that you contact a Riverside attorney who has a proven track record in dealing with such issues. They can set the wheels in motion to deliver a compensatory package that you truly deserve.

Commonplace toxic substances

Pesticides

These are found in industrial as well as household substances and are designed to kill weeds, insects, rodents and other unwanted pests.

Who is at risk?

Pest controllers, agricultural workers, ground keepers, pet groomers and fumigators are all at risk from prolonged exposure to pesticides.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural grown mineral used in the main for its heat retardant properties. It is highly dangerous when the fibres or powder are breathed in and it is possible to transfer the risk on to others if the fibres from the asbestos get onto your clothes. Products such as cement, insulation, textiles and flooring have all used asbestos in the past.

Who is at risk?

Industrial workers, miners and automobile workers can all be at risk from diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma which is a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer.

Benzene

Benzene is everywhere around us. It is used in a whole host of products such as waxes and glues, paints, inks, plastics, dry cleaning fluids, gasoline, lubricants and even cigarettes. Benzene attacks the bone marrow and its ability to produce sufficient red blood cells. This can lead to fatal blood diseases such as lymphoma and leukaemia.

Who is at risk?

Industrial workers, plastics manufacturers and anyone who has daily exposure to any of the above products.

Other toxins

There are a whole host of other toxins such as carbon monoxide, silica, radon and vinyl chloride which can all cause severe health problems if a person has suffered prolonged exposure to them. If you believe that you or a loved one has been exposed to any of the above, then you shouldn't suffer in silence. Instead it is imperative that you contact a highly skilled Riverside County attorney who understands the avenues to take in order to deliver justice.

Toxic poisoning lawsuits

There are several different paths a lawyer can take if they are representing a client who has suffered at the hands of toxic substances and some of these are as follows:

Product liability

It could be that there was a problem with the design of the product that caused the prolonged exposure. Or alternatively, it could be that a manufacturer has failed to issue a warning about the dangers of the product.

Premises liability

We all know the dangers of asbestos in buildings yet they are still coming to light. If the owner of a premises knew or should have known that the building contained toxic and dangerous materials then they can be sued under premises liability law.

Negligence

If an owner of a factory used toxic substances and failed to provide the right safety gear, or didn't make people aware that the substance in use was in fact toxic, then they can be sued for negligence.

Fraud

In some cases, manufacturers or employers have falsely led workers to believe that the product that contained the toxic substances was in fact safe, when it is later found that it wasn't. An example of this is with 'drilling mud' that was used from the 1960's through to the 1980's in the oil industry. It was used to help stop the massive drill bits from overheating. It was routinely mixed with asbestos because of its fire retardant properties. The manufacturers failed to disclose this fact.

Despite the increasing efforts to make our world a much safer place to live the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a list of toxic substances which continues to expand. With this being the case, if you or a loved one has suffered at the hands of a toxic substance, then a Riverside attorney who understands the laws surrounding this will help you fight a case against those who are responsible.