Benzene is a naturally occurring substance which is primarily created from refining crude oil or coal tar. Benzene is a building-block chemical, and can be found in relatively small, yet medically significant amounts in common solvents such as mineral spirits, toluene, xylene, hexane, and other similar chemical products.
Benzene is a chemical of concern because it has long been known to cause various types of damage to the bone-marrow and blood. These disorders include acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). AML and MDS have various subtypes, each of which can be caused by exposure to benzene. Benzene and solvent exposure can also cause lymphoid diseases, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and non-hodgkins lymphoma (NHL). Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, and also related to benzene exposure.
The damage caused by benzene to the body usually accumulates over time, resulting in one of the chronic disorders described above. Therefore, many workers who are exposed in the workplace may not even be aware of the cumulative, harmful impact from benzene until they are diagnosed with a critical disease. Our firm pursues cases involving workers and crafts such as mechanics, chemical or gasoline truck drivers, chemical or gasoline loaders, barge workers, painters, refinery or chemical plant workers, and others who frequently work with and around chemicals and solvents as a regular part of their job. Benzene is a known carcinogen, and any potential exposures should be strictly controlled if not eliminated completely.
Because numerous products contain unsafe levels of benzene, the earlier and farther back in time actual products you or your loved one came into contact with are identified, the better for the case. Each case is handled individually, but generally the same companies are seen over and over again in these cases because of the widespread use of their products.
Each case is different. At Jones Ward PLC, your case will receive the individual attention that it deserves. Our attorneys will visit you at home, or in another comfortable location where you can share details about your or your loved one’s injuries. In addition, every state has different damages available for wrongful death claims. For instance, in states like Kentucky, Indiana and New York, the estate can recover:
- Lost wages or future earning potential
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- The loss of love and affection from a spouse, or from a parent who left behind minor children, or from the child of a parent who loses a child
- Punitive damages
If you do not file a lawsuit within a certain amount of time, you may lose your right to compensation due to the Statute of Limitation. This deadline is different in each state, and it varies depending on the claims you are making in the lawsuit. In Kentucky, for example, the deadline for a product liability claim is one year. However, the same claim in Indiana is two years, and in Florida it is four years. For a free evaluation of your potential claim, call us toll free today at 888-595-2922 or contact us here