Skilled NYC Lead Exposure Attorney

Lead Exposure

Exposure to lead can lead to serious impairments. Many people who are now adults were exposed to lead during childhood. Even exposure to low amounts of lead can cause harmful effects on a child, including nervous system damage, delayed growth and development, learning and behavioral problems, hearing and speech problems, lowered IQ, and symptoms of autism, among other life-changing outcomes.

If you have been affected by NYC lead exposure, you may need to speak with one of our lawyers. Lead exposure may create serious mental and physical problems and lead to a lifetime of impairments.

The New York City personal injury attorneys at David Resnick & Associates, P.C., are ready to help if you or a loved one has suffered health problems due to lead exposure in NYC. Call us today or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation.

Can Injuries Result from Lead Exposure?

Lead exposure occurs when lead dust from old lead paint is inhaled or swallowed. After breathing in the dust, the lead is spread through the respiratory system and released into the blood, potentially causing serious injuries and conditions. Lead exposure or lead poisoning can also happen through the ingestion of lead substances. Lead can be stored in the bones and re-released into the blood, harming organs long after the initial exposure.

Children will tend to show signs of lead toxicity at lower levels than adults. Young children are at the highest risk because their brain is still developing. Lead poisoning has even occurred in kids whose parents accidentally brought home lead dust on their clothing.

If you have children and suspect lead exposure in your home, having their blood checked for lead is a good idea. However, lead poisoning affects people of all ages, so anyone exposed to lead may be in danger.

Injuries and conditions caused by lead exposure include:

Common Ways You Can Be Exposed to Lead

Even though lead-based paint was banned in 1978, many homes, apartments, and other buildings in New York City still contain lead-based paint. Scraping off old lead-based paint is dangerous because it releases lead into the air through paint dust. Painting over older coats of lead paint could prevent exposure. However, when that paint starts to chip or peel, it can be inhaled or ingested by a child. Lead may also be present in furniture, toys, and other products manufactured before 1978.

The most common way children are exposed to lead through contact with paint chips and dust. Children can swallow chipped pieces of lead-based paint. They are likelier to ingest household dust or soil contaminated by leaded paint.

However, lead paint, dust, and contaminated soil are not the only ways children can be exposed to lead. Other sources include:

What to Do If You Have Been Exposed to Lead

If you have been exposed to lead, you may not exhibit symptoms immediately. It’s important to note that not showing symptoms does not mean that you don’t have lead poisoning. You may only have symptoms once the amount of lead in your blood reaches a certain level.

Children with lead poisoning may not exhibit any symptoms as well. It’s a good idea to have your child tested to be on the safe side. If your kids do develop signs of lead poisoning, the symptoms may appear as any of the following:

If your child exhibits any of these symptoms, have him or her tested for lead immediately. Your doctor can determine how much lead is in their blood with a simple test. Call 911 right away if your child is having serious symptoms of lead poisoning, such as seizures or continuous vomiting. It’s critical that you act quickly because lead poisoning can have irreversible effects on a child.

If you are pregnant, you can pass on lead poisoning to your unborn baby by breathing in lead dust or by swallowing an item that contains lead. Babies exposed to lead before birth could be born prematurely or have learning disabilities or behavioral problems.

Taking the following steps can help protect your family from lead poisoning:

What Are the Legal Remedies in a Lead Exposure Lawsuit?

Lead exposure cases can be very complicated. It may require legal action to resolve disputes over lead exposure. For lead exposure lawsuits, the legal remedy generally involves financial compensation issued to the injured party. The award may cover such damages as medical expenses (past, present, and future), prescription and over-the-counter drugs, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and more.

Other legal remedies could include a recall of the defective products that created the lead exposure. With workplace lead exposure cases, the employer could be required to adjust their practices so that they meet industry standards to prevent lead exposure.

The New York lead exposure lawyers at David Resnick & Associates, P.C. have extensive experience helping New Yorkers who are suffering due to lead exposure. Injured clients benefit from our experience in handling these complex claims. Our New York lead exposure attorneys:

Who May Be Held Liable for Lead Exposure Injuries?

Because manufacturers have known of the dangers of lead exposure, they can be held liable when people suffer harm from exposure to their products. Because lead builds up in the body before causing measurable effects, many people harmed by lead poisoning when they were children have lead exposure legal claims years later as adults.

Lead poisoning cases can be pursued against a number of different parties depending upon the facts and circumstances of the case. Liable parties may include:

Contact a New York Lead Exposure Attorney

Lead exposure can cause serious, long-term, and even life-threatening injuries and illnesses. Even low levels of lead can cause harm over time, including stunted growth and hearing loss. More serious injuries include damage to the nervous system, permanent brain damage, and cognitive impairment.

If you believe that you have been exposed to lead in your home, contact David Resnick & Associates, P.C. now t0 schedule a free and confidential consultation.