Getting sick or seriously burned because of noxious fumes, chemicals, or other toxic substances can cause lifelong damage to your body and mind. While nothing can turn back to the clock and undo the harm done to you, gaining access to important financial support can equip you with the resources you need to get proper medical care and pay the bills while you recover. The personal injury, workers’ compensation, and Social Security Disability systems may provide you with the monetary relief you and your family need.
By connecting with a Summerlin chemical burn & fume injury lawyer at Shook & Stone, you can learn about your legal rights and discover what you can do to assert them. Our compassionate team of construction accident attorneys proudly serves those who are hurting and unable to be their complete selves because of a condition or wound. We respect your vulnerability and welcome the chance to help you through this difficult time by lending our legal skills.
How Can Someone Become Exposed to Dangerous Chemicals and Fumes?
Someone may encounter unsafe levels of toxic substances in a variety of ways, such as through work, at home, or in a restaurant. For example, a new homeowner may become exposed to radon or carbon monoxide because of a gas leak or an issue with their sewer. Likewise, someone who is at a restaurant may have hot oil spilled on them, causing them to sustain serious burns.
When you work at a construction site, warehouse, manufacturing plant, pharmaceutical facility, or related environment, you are at a higher risk of encountering dangerous substances throughout your day. For example, you may encounter liquid nitrogen or pesticides that adversely impact your health—e.g., nausea, cancer, or chemical burns. Additionally, if your employer does not give you the proper safety gear, you may unknowingly breathe in toxic fumes while making repairs on equipment in the factory.
Under Nevada Revised Statutes § 618.380, an employer who becomes aware of the likelihood that their staff came in contact with unsafe substances or chemicals should notify those in their workforce. Additionally, the law requires a company to take proactive steps to remove the risk of further exposure. When you come into contact with harmful liquids or gases that make you sick or burn your skin, a Summerlin lawyer could investigate what happened and determine the next steps you can take to assert your legal rights.
What Compensation Can You Get if You Have Been Exposed to Dangerous Chemicals?
When you sustain severe burns, lung damage, neurological symptoms, and other injuries from hazardous compounds or gas, these wounds may prevent you from going to work, spending time with your loved ones, and engaging in meaningful hobbies. Depending on the context in which you got hurt—e.g., during employment or non-work-related activities—you may be entitled to a financial settlement to address your losses.
For example, if you are a construction worker and were burned by chemicals used on the job site, Nev. Rev. Stat. § 616C.020 may allow you to recoup workers’ compensation. In this situation, you may not have to prove that someone’s mistake—e.g., a coworker or your employer—caused your injury. Instead, you might qualify for benefits by virtue of being an eligible employee who was hurt while doing your job.
If a third party is responsible for what happened to you, filing a personal injury lawsuit may be possible if you can establish that someone else’s mistake harmed you. An attorney who regularly represents casualties of chemical burns and noxious fumes in Summerlin, Rhodes Ranch, Sovana, and Sun City could help you identify other possible avenues to seek compensation. For example, the Social Security Disability system may cover you if you have sufficient work credits—time spent paying into the SSDI system—and your condition meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability.
Call a Summerlin Attorney if You Get Sick Because of Exposure to Noxious Gas or Unsafe Chemicals
When you experience painful burns on your skin or eyes or in your nasal passageways because you came into contact with toxic substances, you deserve to receive restitution and relief that allows you to begin to get back to your pre-injury self. Filing a claim through Nevada’s fault-based personal injury system or fault-free workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability programs may help you secure a fair settlement to compensate you for your losses.
Get in touch with Shook & Stone to schedule a no-obligation consultation with a Summerlin chemical burn & fume injury lawyer to discover your options. We provide confidential initial appointments that are completely free.
