Without appropriate health and safety precautions, repeated exposure to chemicals in the workplace puts employees at higher risk of serious injury, illness, or fatalities. What makes working with chemicals dangerous is that exposure often goes undetected until significant harm is done. While most common in the construction, welding, drilling, agricultural, and manufacturing industries, anyone handling, storing, transporting, using, or disposing of hazardous chemicals at work is potentially at risk.
If you suffered an injury tied to dangerous conditions at work, our Savannah chemical exposure injury lawyers could help you claim workers’ compensation or file a personal injury lawsuit. Meanwhile, we have prepared this guide to give you an overview of your options for pursuing financial damages and what to expect from the legal process.
What Compensation Can I Claim For An Injury Caused By Chemical Exposure?
The compensation to which you are entitled will vary depending on the circumstances of your case, the severity of your injuries or health condition, and the legal option most suited for your financial recovery. For example, it may be better to pursue workers’ compensation in some cases and file a personal injury lawsuit in others. Sometimes, both options apply.
If this sounds confusing, do not worry. We are happy to review your case for free to answer your questions and determine a suitable legal action. However, as a general guide, we have listed the compensation available under both options below.
Employee Benefits Provided With Workers’ Compensation
- A percentage equal to two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum of $725.00 per week.
- All authorized medical bills, plus medical and vocational rehabilitation in some cases.
Compensation in a Personal Injury Lawsuit
- Medical bills, such as prescriptions, diagnostic tests, hospital stays, surgeries, and treatment.
- Rehabilitation costs such as physiotherapy, counseling, or occupational therapy.
- Pain and suffering for physical and emotional trauma caused by being injured.
- Lost wages and compensation if your injuries prevent you from returning to work or limit what you can do.
- Financial damages for physical impairment or disfigurement.
We know how tough it is to have your home and work life upturned by a serious injury or illness and how frustrating it is to see this harm could have been prevented with the appropriate safety measures. As such, you are legally entitled to compensation. Although we cannot undo your suffering, our chemical exposure lawyers can fight for financial compensation to make things easier for you and your family.
For a free legal consultation with a chemical exposure injury lawyer serving Savannah, call (404) 888-8888
How Long Do I Have To File a Claim For Chemical Exposure Injuries At Work?
There are a few important deadlines to be aware of when seeking compensation for chemical exposure at work. These vary depending on the course of legal action you take. For example, suppose you are filing a claim with your current employer. In that case, you must inform them as soon as you are aware of your injury or illness and have a maximum of 30 days to notify them. Failure to do this could risk your right to workers’ compensation benefits.
Similarly, suppose someone other than your employer is responsible for the breach of chemical safety in the workplace, and you are suing them for negligence. In that case, you have two years to file your injury lawsuit per Georgia statute law (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33). Again, if you are unsure of your rights or have questions about your legal options for financial recovery, we are here to help.
Savannah Chemical Exposure Injury Lawyer Near Me (404) 888-8888
What Health Conditions are Caused by Chemical Exposure at Work?
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration defines hazardous chemicals as “any chemical which can cause a physical or health hazard.” Exposure through inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion can cause a wide range of illnesses and diseases, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, which can include the following:
- Asbestosis
- Autoimmune conditions
- Congenital disabilities
- Burns
- Cancers
- Chronic bronchitis
- Dermatitis
- Emphysema
- Fibrosis
- Heart failure
- Infertility
- Kidney damage
- Liver damage
- Nerve damage
- Steatosis
- Tumors
Injuries caused by chemical substances can be acute (or sudden), such as burns from a chemical spill, or they may develop gradually due to repeated exposure over a longer period. This latent development may make claiming benefits or financial damages more challenging, especially if you don’t have appropriate knowledge of personal injury, health and safety, and employment laws and are attempting to handle the case on your own.
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How Do I Prove My Injuries Were Caused By Chemical Exposure At Work?
Say you were exposed to asbestos as a construction worker on a job you had decades ago and later developed cancer. In that case, we can help you identify who is financially liable for your health condition by investigating your claim. Once we determine who is responsible, we can pursue compensation on your behalf by building a robust case to prove the following elements:
- Your employer had a duty of care to provide a safe working environment by adhering to reasonable safety standards – most employers are expected to uphold this duty.
- Your employer breached their duty of care by failing to provide proper safety equipment or keeping you safe from the danger of chemical exposure – this varies depending on the facts of your case – there could be other reasons for a breach of duty.
- The breach of duty caused your injury or health condition resulting in physical, emotional, and financial damages – again, this varies on a case-by-case basis.
Our chemical exposure attorneys carefully assess how your injury or illness has impacted your family and personal relationships, social life, and employment so we can seek appropriate compensation for your past, current, and ongoing financial damages.
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Where Can I Get Information About Claiming For A Workplace Injury?
At Bader Scott Injury Lawyers, we do everything we can for our clients to make their journey to recovery as hassle-free as possible. This means we take care of our client’s needs and provide everything they need to pursue compensation after being injured by chemical exposure in the workplace. We want to help you, too.
Call our team today to learn more about your legal options during a free consultation.
Call or text (404) 888-8888 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
