Exposure to chemicals happens in many situations. Many times, there is no harm, but when a company knowingly allows individuals to be exposed to dangerous substances, those victims have the right to seek relief with the help of toxic tort lawyers.
At Burnett Law Firm, we offer assistance to those who have been harmed by the careless actions of companies and other entities involving toxic substances. Tort actions are only one part of the wide range of legal services we provide. Our toxic tort attorneys focus on building a strong client relationship so you can obtain the compensation you need. Contact us for a free case evaluation today.
Toxic Tort Lawsuits Explained
A toxic tort lawsuit is generally brought by individuals who have suffered illness or injury due to the negligent actions of a company responsible for producing or managing toxic chemicals of some kind. This can be an extremely broad category. For example, toxic torts may involve situations such as:
- Consumer products: Cleaning products, pesticides, herbicides, and other substances approved for home use must meet specific regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Home construction: Poor moisture control procedures during construction or renovation can lead to toxic exposure to black mold and other contaminants.
- Chemical exposure at work: Whether in an office, construction site, or retail workplace, employees can be exposed to solvents, cleaning products, and manufacturing chemicals that are toxic, leading to sickness or injury.
- Medications: Whether prescription or over-the-counter, when a company fails to recall, reformulate, or give adequate warnings about their drugs, victims may need to resort to pharmaceutical litigation with a skilled attorney.
In many cases, companies or individuals assume a chemical is safe when it actually is not. The truth may be found out very quickly in instances where people become sick or die soon after using the toxic substances, but frequently, the harm does not become apparent until after months or even years of exposure.
Our law firm has handled cases where clients became sick from various interactions with the toxic substances, including eating, breathing, touching, or drinking them. Often, the contact is unintentional or unrecognized, especially when the substance is in groundwater or travels by air. Regardless of the exposure, we investigate each case thoroughly to determine how to proceed.
How Our Toxic Tort Attorneys Help Injured Victims
At Burnett Law Firm, our trial lawyers and toxic tort attorneys are dedicated to providing compassionate and aggressive legal representation for our clients. We understand you are facing a world of uncertainty and worry when you have been a victim of toxic chemical exposure. We aim to educate you about your choices and alleviate your fears.
Our law firm prides itself on being deeply involved in our Houston community, working hard to represent our neighbors and protect them from unscrupulous corporations. We listen carefully to each story during a free consultation, then give our best advice on what to do next. We also work on contingency, so you do not have to worry about paying our fees before we begin. We do not get paid unless we secure a settlement for you.
Our toxic tort team has decades of experience managing cases across various jurisdictions. We can provide accomplished legal representation wherever your case will receive the best result.
We Offer Services That Strengthen Toxic Tort Claims
No matter who is responsible for your toxic exposure to a chemical, we are prepared to offer valuable services to ensure we build the strongest case possible. Every claim is unique, but we can perform the following skills to achieve the best attainable outcome for you:
- Identifying all negligent parties
- Connecting you with medical experts for a full diagnosis
- Collecting manufacturing and other records to determine liability
- Researching the development, marketing, and production processes of the chemical in question
- Hiring expert witnesses to testify on your behalf
- Gathering all relevant evidence to prove negligence and support your damage claims
- Creating an estimate of your economic and non-economic losses
- Preparing you for what to expect in your trial
- Putting the full resources of our law firm to work on your case
- Litigating fiercely against big companies to protect your rights
At Burnett Law Firm, we connect with you personally so we understand the full scope of your needs. We keep you informed and educate you so you can make the most informed decisions about your case. Our experienced legal team is committed to securing the maximum compensation available for you.
Current Toxic Tort Litigation
The current state of toxic tort litigation involves chemicals that have been determined to be toxic from both decades ago and more recently. For example, asbestos exposure lawsuits are still filed every day because the diseases one develops, such as mesothelioma, can take as long as 40 years to become apparent. Considering asbestos is still used in some automotive component production, these cases may continue indefinitely.
More recent cases involve companies like Monsanto pleading guilty to knowingly using harmful pesticides on Hawaiian cornfields in 2020, exposing workers to the substances. Exposure to chemicals like Benzene can be the basis of a toxic tort case since long-term exposure is associated with cancer. Specifically, victims tend to develop acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and there have been instances where breathing benzene gas harmed the reproductive organs.
All successful toxic tort cases depend on providing robust and substantial evidence showing the extent and cause of the plaintiff’s exposure. The attorneys must demonstrate the defendant’s negligence and how it directly caused the victim’s harm. Our law firm is not afraid of taking on large manufacturers and pursuing justice on each client’s behalf. We have done it many times before and won.
Potential Compensation Available in Toxic Tort Cases
Settling a toxic exposure lawsuit may happen before trial in a settlement, or it could take years of battling in various courtrooms to receive a jury verdict in your favor. Regardless of the time involved, a case filed against a big company can provide substantial compensation for the many damages you have suffered at their hands.
Our toxic tort lawyers will speak with you and help you consider the expenses and emotional costs of your injuries you may have overlooked. We have special ways of calculating your pain and suffering so we can ask for a fair and appropriate settlement amount.
Economic Damages You Can Seek
As a victim of an entity’s negligence, you can seek relief for all of your economic damages, such as medical bills, lost income, lost earning potential, travel costs for treatment, and medications. You can also request expenses involved in renovating your home to accommodate any disability you are left with, as well as in-home nursing care or the costs of a nursing facility.
If you are left unable to work for the rest of your life, you and your family could suffer a financial crisis without appropriate compensation. Those who hurt you must be brought to justice and made to ensure you are able to live comfortably as you recover.
Non-Economic Damages You Can Seek
Your non-economic (or subjective) damages include emotional distress, mental anguish, loss of society, and depression. You may also experience a loss of enjoyment of life or suffer isolation due to scarring or disfigurement. Although difficult to put a specific price tag on, all of these losses are no less real than physical injuries or illness resulting from the careless behavior of the at-fault party.
Punitive Damages
In many toxic tort cases, the court will elect to award punitive damages, which are meant to exact harsh penalties on the defendant. The judge may rule that the actions were intentional, grossly negligent, egregious, or malicious. Punitive damages are separate from the compensatory damages mentioned above. They are given to make an example of the defendant and serve as a warning to others against engaging in those same behaviors.
Contact the Toxic Tort Lawyers at Burnett Law Firm
Injury or illness caused by exposure to toxic chemicals can leave you suffering for months or years. In extreme cases, you or your loved one could require lifelong care and medical treatment. Your case could be worth millions, depending on the manufacturer’s negligence and the severity of your injury.
Your Burnett Law Firm toxic tort attorney will help you calculate your losses. Your financial costs and pain and suffering at the hands of a thoughtless company deserve compensation, and our team will seek justice on your behalf. You can put your trust in us to manage your case while you concentrate on getting better.
We offer proven results in previous toxic tort lawsuits and a commitment to your full emotional, physical, and financial recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation with a qualified national injury attorney who will stand up for your rights. You can schedule your meeting by calling us or using our online contact form.