Representing Victims of Lead Paint Poisoning
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there are approximately four million American families that have children that have been exposed to high levels of lead. The CDC estimates that there are half a million children between the ages of one and five that have high levels of lead in their blood. Even a small amount of lead within a child's bloodstream can be extremely dangerous. This is a major concern, as lead poisoning can result in serious neurological and developmental problems.
Often, lead poisoning occurs because of lead-based paint that still remains in a home, school, or daycare facility. As lead paint ages, it can begin to flake off or come off in the form of a dust. This dust will land on anything in the household, including the hands, feet, and nose of a child and, more specifically, the child's toys. When these toys end up in a child's mouth, the child ingests and absorbs lead. As lead is absorbed over time, it can build up in the bloodstream and affect a child in a variety of ways.
If you or your child has suffered lead poisoning, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the negligent party involved. Contact our Ridgefield personal injury attorneys to discuss your case: (203) 438-7450.
How Does Lead Paint Cause Harm?
If lead is absorbed over time, especially in children under the age of five, it can cause harmful symptoms that can affect a child for life.
These can include any or all of the following:
- Decreased IQ
- Communication difficulties
- Problems with memory
- Concentration difficulties
- Bad fine-motor skills
- Difficulty with abstract concepts
- Difficulty with organization
- Difficulty moving from one idea to the next
If I Have a Lead Paint Poisoning Case, What Should I Do?
Contact our Connecticut personal injury lawyers as soon as possible. It is vital not to do anything that may negatively affect your case. Our attorneys might advise you not to give any statements or sign any authorizations, so it is essential to speak with us right away. Potential notice requirements may have deadlines and if not met, could result in the dismissal of your lead paint poisoning case.
How Is Liability Determined?
One of the most critical issues in a defective product case is determining how a “reasonable person” is expected to act in the same situation. Whether or not a person failed to act like a “reasonable person” is often left up to a jury to decide. Both the plaintiff (injury victim) and the defendant (negligent party) will likely engage in an argumentative trial where evidence is presented.
If you believe you have a case, you will need to prove that a reasonable person, such as the owner of the apartment you rent, should have removed the lead-based paint, yet failed to do so. Therefore, their negligence may make them liable in a premises liability case.
No matter your situation involving lead paint poisoning, our firm is prepared to help you further investigate and strengthen your case. You can start by setting up a free consultation today.
What Compensation Might I Receive if My Case Is Successful?
When a person is found liable for the injury he or she must pay the injured party through their liability insurance company:
- Past and future medical care expenses
- Past and future income lost due to the accident
- Long term or permanent physical disability
- Long term or permanent disfigurement
- Loss of family, social, and educational experiences
- Emotional damages: stress, embarrassment or depression
- Strains on family relationships
- Punitive damages (in extraordinary cases)
- Damaged property
When the injured party is awarded “damages” or compensation, it is only intended to restore them to their original state before the injury. This compensation is not to be considered income—excluding that provided for loss of income—and cannot be taxed by the state or federal government.
How Can I Get Experts to Help Me with My Case?
Our personal injury attorneys assist with cases in Norwalk, Danbury, Bridgeport, Stamford, and beyond. When you retain our services, we can hire experts to help strengthen and develop your lead poisoning case. Experts may include a toxicology expert, hazardous materials expert, or medical doctor.
Who Will Pay the Expenses of Hiring These Experts?
In many cases, our injury attorneys advance all fees for the client until the conclusion of their lead paint poisoning case. After the case is finished, we would be reimbursed for our costs through the recovery. Depending on the state laws—even if there is no recovery—the client may still be obligated for the fees and expenses of the case even though there are no legal fees. On the other hand, if the client is not rewarded recovery, some firms may agree to cover any and all costs.
Schedule a free case consultation to discuss the next steps of your case. Our Ridgefield personal injury lawyers are proud to represent victims of lead poisoning throughout Connecticut.