The Legal Nuances of Toxic Exposure Cases

Of all the dangers you may face, toxic exposure may be one of the worst—and yet, few people even know they’ve been affected until it’s years or decades later. Proving causation and liability are some of the toughest challenges victims and attorneys face in toxic exposure cases, and it’s important to be prepared for the uphill battle that’s coming if you’ve suffered illness due to chemical exposure.

The team at Reeves & Mestayer is here to help; you don’t have to go through this alone. Call our team of Biloxi personal injury attorneys at 1-855-558-2977 to set up a consultation now.

Health Risks of Toxic Exposure

Exposure to toxic substances can impact your health in a variety of ways. Exposure to solvents and pesticides can cause immediate poisoning symptoms. In the long term, they may lead to neurological disorders, organ damage, respiratory damage, and skin conditions. When victims inhale these chemicals—for example, asbestos fibers—lung disease may follow.

Radiation is another common source of toxic exposure. History is full of cases of radiation poisoning caused by disasters covered up by the government, only coming to light when floods of thyroid cancer cases and children born disabled come to light years or decades later. Radiation changes your cells at the genetic level, not only harming you but also future generations.

Environmental pollutants are another common source of toxic exposure. Air pollution from particulate matter can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular disease, not to mention an increased risk of stroke and lung cancer.

You may also be harmed by heavy metals found in the water supply and soil in a community. Consider, for example, mercury. Pregnant women exposed to mercury often give birth to children with developmental issues and have a higher risk of stillbirth. Higher-than-average levels of cadmium can lead to kidney damage, weakened bones, and lung cancer. Everyone has heard of the dangers of lead, leading to the removal of lead from toys and paint. Those with consistent exposure to lead may suffer cognitive issues, kidney damage, and cardiovascular issues.

Establishing Liability and Causation

One of the biggest legal challenges in toxic exposure cases is proving liability. When you’re involved in a car accident or a slip and fall, causation is easy to prove—if an accident happens, you suffer injuries. Exposure to toxins is different. While you may be able to prove that any immediate health concerns are the result of exposure, what happens when you and your entire family are diagnosed with thyroid cancer 30 years down the line because your job didn’t warn you that you were working with asbestos every day?

It is incredibly hard to prove that something you were exposed to years ago is the direct cause of your current health issues. All these companies have to do is prove that your health issues may have come from something else, and that’s often enough to get them off the hook.

The Challenges of Pursuing Compensation

Another major issue that comes with seeking compensation for toxic exposure is the fact that exposure is often caused by major companies and manufacturers—the same companies that have bottomless pockets when it comes to legal fees. When you look at any major win against companies that have caused toxic exposure to employees and innocent people, you’ll see that it came after a very long legal battle that ultimately forced the companies to accept liability and pay out compensation.

That’s why it’s important to choose the right personal injury attorney if toxic exposure has left you with respiratory disease, cancer, developmental disorders among your children, and other health issues obviously caused by chemical exposure. Attorneys with experience in these types of cases know what has worked in the past and what tactics companies use to dodge liability and try to protect their bottom lines. This often involves consulting with expert witnesses, referring to relevant cases, and tapping into a deep understanding of the science behind toxic exposure.

Choose Reeves & Mestayer for Your Toxic Exposure Case

The team at Reeves & Mestayer is here to help you fight for justice if toxic exposure has left you or your family sick. Get started now by setting up a consultation. Call us at 1-855-558-2977 or reach out online now.