Chemical Exposure Attorney Chicago, IL

Chicago residents have the right to live, work, and go to school in a safe environment that is free of hazards, including chemical exposures. Unfortunately, residents’ rights are not always upheld by the government or large companies in the area. Exposure to asbestos, arsenic, lead paint, and other chemicals can leave resident with long-term health effects. At Coogan Gallagher, our chemical exposure attorneys in Chicago, IL help injured parties and their families recover compensation for the harms they have experienced due to toxins.

Contact us today for a free initial consultation.

Toxic Chemicals Most Commonly Involved In Injuries & Evacuations

Toxic chemicals and substances come in many forms, including but not limited to black mold, asbestos, lead paint, hydrogen sulfide, mercury, benzene, and more. According to the CDC, there are five chemicals in particular whose names commonly pop up in injury and evacuation reports. Those chemicals have accounted for 37 percent of the 57,975 injuries caused by chemical release in a nine-year span. They include:

• Carbon Monoxide: The most common symptoms of CO poisoning include dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, headache, chest pain, and confusion. Exposure to high levels of this chemical often leads to death.
• Ammonia: Ammonia was the number one cause of chemical exposure evacuations between 1999 and 2008. Ammonia exposure can result in skin irritation, serious burns on the skin and in the throat, mouth, eyes, and lungs. At high levels, ammonia can cause death.
• Chlorine: At low levels, chlorine can cause nose, eye, and throat irritation. Coughing, changes in breathing rate, chest pain, and vomiting may occur as well. After a few minutes of exposure, death can occur.
• Hydrochloric Acid: Hydrochloric acid can lead to the corrosion of respiratory organs, intestines, skin, and eyes.
• Sulfuric Acid: Because of its highly corrosive nature, sulfuric acid can cause severe damage through chemical and thermal burns. If splashed in the eye or placed near the eye, it can burn the cornea and lead to permanent blindness.

Toxic chemicals often fall into one of six categories: toxic substances, corrosives, irritants, carcinogens, asphyxiates, and biological hazards. If a chemical is not listed above, that does not mean it is not dangerous. If you suspect that you and others you know were exposed to a toxic chemical, contact our Chicago chemical exposure attorney to discuss your possible case and options today.

Injuries Caused By Chemical Exposure

Injuries caused by chemical exposure are often devastating. At Coogan Gallagher, our team will investigate claims involving everything from scarring of the skin to lung damage. Some of the more common chemical injuries we see include the following:

• Blindness
• Respiratory damage
• Mesothelioma
• Lung disease
• Cancer
• Organ failure
• Asbestosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Chemically induced asthma
• Brain damage
• Death

Because of the severity of the consequences of chemical exposure, it is imperative that victims and their loved ones stand up for their rights to safe, hazard-free home and work environments. The responsible parties must be held accountable for their harms caused. If they are not, they may continue with their negligent ways.

Contact An Experienced Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one is ill or injured because of unsafe levels of a toxic chemical in the air, contact Coogan Gallagher to discuss your case with our compassionate and experienced attorneys today. With the right lawyer on your side, you can hold the negligent party accountable and recover compensation for your physical and financial harms.