Los Angeles Toxic Chemical Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of toxic chemical exposure, the experienced Los Angeles toxic chemical injury lawyers at Bisnar Chase can help you better understand your legal rights and options. We have the knowledge and resources it takes to assemble evidence including expert testimony that is imperative in toxic tort cases. Please contact one of our top rated personal injury lawyers to obtain more information about pursuing your legal rights.

Los Angeles Victims of toxic chemical exposure would be well advised to explore their legal options with a toxic tort attorney that understands this complicated area of law. Financial support may be available for their medical bills, lost wages, loss of livelihood, pain and suffering and other related damages. How much compensation is available and who can be held accountable depends on the cause of the exposure and the facts of the case.

Injured Los Angeles workers can pursue financial support for their medical bills and a portion of their lost wages through workers' compensation benefits. They will have to prove that they were exposed to the chemicals while working and that the exposure resulted in an injury or illness. Depending on the circumstances of the exposure, it may be possible to also file a third-party claim to receive additional compensation for damages.

Top 5 Most Common Injury Causing Chemicals

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Four of the top five chemicals (ammonia, chlorine, hydrochloric acid, and sulfuric acid) have been documented as being the most frequently reported releases involved in injuries and evacuations.

One quarter of all 354 deaths during this time period were attributable to these five chemicals. These five chemicals were also the top five chemicals released in the top five industries that resulted in injuries.

1. Carbon Monoxide
2. Ammonia
3. Chlorine
4. Hydrochloric Acid
5. Sulfuric Acid

How Toxic Chemicals Enter Your Body

A chemical is considered toxic if it is harmful to human health when inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin. There are naturally occurring toxins that are found in certain plants and synthetic toxic chemicals that are man-made. You may be exposed to dangerous toxins every time you clean a drain, polish furniture, paint the walls or kill the bugs in your yards. Individuals are at risk for toxic exposure on the job or even at home. There are three ways in which a toxic chemical can get into your body and cause harm: through the air, your skin and your mouth. When you breathe in a chemical through your nose and mouth, it can cause immediate damage to your lungs. You can also absorb toxic chemicals into your body through you skin or your eyes. If a chemical is on your hands and you touch food, that chemical may get inside your mouth and travel throughout your body.

Health Issues Related to Toxic Exposure

It is common for victims of toxic chemical exposure to suffer symptoms such as itchy skin and eyes, coughing, sore throat, runny nose and sneezing. This type of health issue will usually go away shortly after you are away from the chemical. You may also experience allergy-like symptoms every time you are near a dangerous chemical. In severe cases, the allergic reaction may result in asthma or breathing problems.

Other health issues related to toxic chemical exposure include:

• Burns: You could suffer burns on the outside or inside of your body depending on how you are exposed to the chemical.
• Cancer: Different chemicals can cause cancer of the lungs, liver, skin, blood, bone marrow and other body parts.
• Organ Damage: Some chemicals can cause immediate poisoning that makes the victim very ill. Others cause slow, severe damage to the inside of the body.
• Sexual and reproductive health issues: The sperm of a man and a woman's ability to conceive a child can be affected by toxic exposure. In cases where a woman is exposed to chemicals while pregnant, the baby may have serious health issues.

There are many different toxic chemicals that you may come into contact with at work or even at home. Here are a few examples of harmful chemicals and the symptoms they can cause:

• Ammonia: This is a volatile compound that can irritate the respiratory system when inhaled.
• Antifreeze: This is a chemical that is poisonous if swallowed resulting in brain, heart, kidney and other organ damage.
• Asbestos: This is a mineral that was used for decades to make insulation. It does not cause any short-term health effects, but it can develop into the fatal lung disease, mesothelioma.
• Bisphenol A (BPA): This is a building block of lightweight plastic products found in water bottles, baby bottles, jar lids and food containers. The majority of people in the United States are exposed to BPA with little to no effect. There are studies, however, that show that factory workers exposed to BPA may have issues with their brain, behavior and prostate gland.
• Bleach: Household bleach is regularly found in cleaning products. It can cause irritation to the skin when touched and damage to the respiratory system when inhaled.
• Formaldehyde: Workers in industries that treat fabric, cast metal and process plastic can cause formaldehyde exposure. Symptoms may include cancer, irritation, rashes and blindness.
• Lead: Lead is used in paints, pigments and metal pipes. Lead poisoning symptoms can range from stomach aches and headaches to kidney damage and cancer.
• Phthalates: This is a family of chemicals that soften plastic. These dangerous toxic chemicals are found in soap, shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays and perfumes. Studies have shown a connection between phthalate exposure and male sexual development issues.
• Sodium hydroxide: Exposure to the lye that is commonly found in drain cleaners can result in extremely serious chemical burns.

Toxic Exposure in Los Angeles

A recent years study found that residents may be exposed to tiny particles from airport toxins that affect the lungs. These toxic Ultrafine Particles (UFPs) are much higher near airports than urban communities. The Southern California Particle Center at UCLA found that this exposure may contribute to cardiovascular disease for some Los Angeles residents. Hazardous waste is another concern in a county as large as LA.

Toxic mold in older Los Angeles homes and buildings is another area for concern due to the serious health issues from toxic molds. Landlords who knowingly rent toxic spaces to tenants could be liable for damages. Toxic exposure at jobsites is fairly common and people suffering ill effects not only need medical evaluations but legal advice to protect themselves.

Skilled Lawyers Who Care and Win

The experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyers at Bisnar Chase can help you in determining if you have a case because of exposure to hazardous or toxic chemicals, and will help you proceed with legal action if you do. Give us a call today for a free case evaluation, 323-238-4683