Lead Poisoning in the Workplace

The dangers of lead poisoning are very real. Every day, innocent people are unknowingly exposed to toxic levels of lead, resulting in serious and potentially life-altering complications. And yet far too little is done to protect the public from the risk of harm.

The workplace is one of the most common sites for dangerous lead exposure, and that’s especially true in older cities like New York.

Employers have a duty, under New York personal injury law, to maintain safe working conditions for their employees. That includes taking reasonable measures to reduce the risk of exposure.

Lead has no place in the human body. It is a harmful and foreign substance that our bodies are notoriously poor at tolerating. Any exposure to lead in your workplace should be considered a grave threat to your health and wellness.

The American Academy of Family Physicians puts it like this: “The continued occurrence of occupational lead exposure and lead poisoning in the United States remains a fundamental problem despite awareness of its adverse health effects. Lead exposure is arguably the oldest known occupational health hazard. It is a particularly insidious hazard with the potential for causing irreversible health effects.”

No one deserves to suffer from occupational lead poisoning. It is important that you understand the signs of potential illness so that you can take quick action to protect yourself and hold those responsible for your exposure accountable. The lead poisoning lawyers at Tucker Lawyers PC can help.

Our office understands how terrifying and devastating any amount of lead exposure can be. It is our goal to make New York a safer and healthier city by fighting for workers who’ve unfairly suffered from occupational lead poisoning. Victims may be entitled to significant financial compensation, and we are determined to get them what they deserve.

How Can We Help?

When it comes to lead paint poisoning, once you are affected by it, there’s not much that can be done to reverse the damage. Anyone that’s been impacted by it needs lifelong and ongoing care. Our NYC lead poisoning lawyers at Tucker Lawyers understand how severe lead poisoning and its impacts are.

That is why we fight to ensure you get every bit of money you deserve for injury claims. Our lead poisoning attorneys work with experts in the field, like medical professionals, to determine the full extent of your injuries. We do this to guarantee that you are compensated for all the treatment you’ll need.

Our lead poisoning lawyers help you file a lawsuit against your property manager or landlord if they neglect to disclose that your home contains lead paint. When you and your child are exposed to lead paint due to negligence, you don’t have to fight on your own.

Instead, our lawyers at Tucker Lawyers fight to get you the financial compensation you deserve. We have years of experience representing clients in lead paint cases, putting us in the best position to provide you with the guidance and legal perspective you need to file a successful claim.

Contact an NYC lead poisoning lawyer at Tucker Lawyers today for a free consultation at (212) 563-1900.

Sources of Lead Poisoning

Despite the fact that lead has been used by humans and mined for thousands of years, it has been mostly banned for consumer use in the U.S. It is still used for industrial uses, though. As a result, it is common to find it in older products or products that are imported from other countries. You may be surprised to know that lead may be present in the soil, water, air, and even inside your home.

A lead poisoning lawyer will explain that you must have a blood test that confirms lead poisoning. Once you have that, it’s essential to determine the source of lead exposure so that you can prevent further poisoning. One of the most commonly known sources of lead poisoning is typically dust and chips from old, lead-based paint. It is especially common for homes that were built before 1978 to contain lead paint.

If the lead paint is intact, it typically isn’t a concern. However, when it is in the form of chips and dust, it can spread to different areas and get into the soil.

There can be many other sources of lead, including:

  • Drinking water, especially from old lead pipes and plumbing materials
  • Old ceramics, pewter, antique cookware, and pots
  • Solder
  • Batteries
  • Ammunition
  • Emissions from industrial sources
  • Secondary lead smelting, mining operations, incinerators, battery recycling facilities, and toxic waste sites
  • Airports
  • “Take home” exposure from industrial workers
  • Putty and interior plaster
  • Children’s products
  • Fishing sinkers
  • Face paints
  • Imported canned foods
  • Imported vinyl mini-blinds.

Symptoms of Occupational Lead Poisoning

Unfortunately, the symptoms of occupational lead poisoning are often ambiguous and slow to appear. In many cases, irreversible damage may already be done before the initial diagnosis is made.

Accordingly, it is especially important that employees remain vigilant in monitoring themselves for symptoms, which may include:

  • Hypotension or hypertension (low or high blood pressure)
  • Anemia
  • Hearing problems
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation
  • Headaches
  • Joint and/or muscle pain
  • Pain, numbness, or tingling in the extremities
  • Memory loss
  • Central nervous system problems
  • Poor coordination
  • Mood swings/mood disorders
  • Fatigue
  • Abnormal sperm (including reduced sperm count)
  • Difficulty concentrating/mental difficulties
  • Premature birth or miscarriage in women
  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea (in cases of sudden, acute exposure)
  • Permanent brain damage.

It is possible to have exceedingly elevated levels of lead in your blood and still not experience any symptoms. If you suspect any exposure whatsoever to lead in your workplace, please seek immediate medical attention.

FAQs

If you are planning to file a lead poisoning claim, you may have a lot of questions about your case. These are a few of the frequent questions our experienced lead poisoning lawyers at Tucker Lawyers PC hear from clients, along with their answers.

Can a Lead Poisoning Attorney Explain Who Can Be Held Accountable for Lead Poisoning?

In general, a lead poisoning claim can be filed against a landlord who failed to remove lead paint or other products and children living in residence ingested the lead. Cases against landlords typically include negligence and breach of the implied warranty of habitability.

What Steps Are Involved When a Lead Poisoning Lawyer Files a Claim?

For most attorneys, the first step in pursuing a lead poisoning claim that occurs is the suspicion that your child is the victim of lead poisoning. It’s essential to remember that not all children exhibit the symptoms typically associated with lead poisoning. When you suspect that your child has become the victim of lead poisoning, it’s important that you consult a qualified lead poisoning lawyer.

Our lead poisoning attorney reviews your case to determine if there is medical evidence that your child has an elevated lead level. There may not be evidence showing how your child was exposed to the lead that caused their elevated lead level. The process can be lengthy because it requires a review of medical records and consultation with physicians, neuropsychologists, experienced lead testers, and certified industrial hygienists.

How Do I Know if My Case Has Merit?

All lead poisoning lawyers know that each case is unique. Each one has distinct facts and circumstances. Determining if your case has merit is often a multi-step process. First, a qualified lead paint lawyer reviews the case to determine if the type of injury suffered by the child is sufficient for a claim. We also determine if the conduct of the landlord or other responsible party rises to the level of a claim.

We often have to review your child’s medical records and consult with physicians and other healthcare providers to assist in determining the cause of your child’s injuries. Therefore, each case must be evaluated from a legal and a medical perspective.

To reach a decision, we determine the following:

  • If the claim is barred by a statute of limitations or a statute of repose
  • If the landlord or other responsible party knew about the presence of lead in the home or products used in renovation and upkeep
  • The potential for recovery
  • The likelihood of being able to collect upon a judgment, if successful.

How Long Should I Expect My Lead Poisoning Case to Take?

Unfortunately, there is no easy or simple answer to this question. There are some cases that are settled prior to trial. It’s possible for some to settle prior to a lawsuit being filed. However, there are many that do not. When a case must go through the lawsuit process, it can take several years to litigate the case to trial. In some cases, there could be a need to appeal the results of the trial. If that happens, it does extend the time required to resolve the case. It’s essential that you understand that, from beginning to end, it could take several years for a case to reach a final resolution.

Our team of NYC lead poisoning attorneys at Tucker Lawyers PC is prepared to answer your questions about your lead poisoning case. Trust that we will fight hard to ensure that you receive the compensation that you should have.

Free Consultation with Our New York Lead Poisoning Lawyers

Occupational lead exposure and poisoning are more common than you might think. If you have any reason to believe that your workplace may have exposed you or a loved one to lead, you should take action right away.

For those who’ve already suffered exposure, the lead poisoning attorneys at Tucker Lawyers PC can help with compassionate and effective legal representation. We will work hard to investigate the true source of your poisoning and determine the full value of your damages, which may include more than you realize. We have years of experience handling work injury cases, and we won’t rest until justice is fully served.

We will not charge for our services unless we are able to recover money on your behalf. Please remember, though, that time limits apply for these claims, so you should take action as soon as possible. Please reach out to us right away.

To schedule a completely free consultation with our lead poisoning lawyers, please contact our office as soon as possible by calling (212) 563-1900 or through our website.

john tucker

Managing Attorney John. J. Tucker, Esq.

John has personally handled thousands of clients who were victims of another’s negligence and fights relentlessly for their rights. John enjoys bringing closure to a client’s matter so that the injured party can move forward with their life. His background enables him to evaluate complex liability related claims and bring resolution to claims in a record time frame. [ Attorney Bio ]

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