Environmental & Toxic Tort

A toxic tort is a specific type of personal injury or property damage case that occurs as a result of exposure to toxic materials such as chemicals, pesticides, toxins, or pharmaceuticals. The most common toxic tort cases involve those in which the plaintiff claims to have been exposed to toxic chemicals as a direct result of their occupation or location of their residence.

Occupational toxic tort cases occur more often than any other tort case, simply due to the fact that industrial workers are more likely to suffer from long-term exposure to toxic chemicals than consumers or residents.

Asbestos Toxicity

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring material that is commonly used in construction. It is very strong and has high resilience to heat, which is why it was mostly used as an insulation material. Although asbestos worked well for this purpose, it was soon discovered that long-term exposure and/or inhalation of asbestos resulted in respiratory diseases, such as mesothelioma. The cases brought by those who developed diseases after being exposed to asbestos are classified as toxic tort cases.

Diseases caused by exposure to toxic materials, such as asbestos, can be life-changing. If you have suffered due to exposure to any toxic material or chemical you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced personal injury lawyers at The Cochran Firm, with offices across the country, can help you file a personal injury case against the party, or parties, responsible. You may be awarded damages covering your medical expenses, lost wages, future lost wages, and more losses you have suffered.

Toxic tort cases can also be brought against pharmaceutical companies, drug manufacturers, or even prescribing doctors. These are cases in which the plaintiff alleges he was exposed to toxic pharmaceutical drugs and suffered an injury or death as a result. These cases differ from medical malpractice cases, however, in that they are product liability cases. The defective products involved in these cases are the drugs. Pharmaceutical drugs are often recalled after their negative side effects are discovered. However, these recalls, issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are often too late, and people have been injured as a result of harmful, defective pharmaceutical drugs.

Environmental Law Factors

Some common chemicals that have resulted in toxic tort cases include:

  • Arsenic
  • Cadmium
  • Beryllium
  • Benzene
  • Manganese
  • Silica
  • Pesticides
  • Asbestos
  • Lead

Diseases that have occurred as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals include:

  • Asbestosis
  • Mesothelioma
  • Leukemia
  • Lung disease
  • Hodgkin's disease
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Silicosis
  • Other cancers and death

Environmental or toxic tort law cases are very serious, difficult personal injury or property damage cases. Most toxic tort claims involve large corporations and can seem daunting and extremely difficult to prosecute. The experienced personal injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm, however, can help you every step of the way to ensure you receive any compensation you may be entitled.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to exposure to a toxic material or chemical, please contact the experienced environmental and toxic tort attorneys at The Cochran Firm, with offices nationwide, today for your free, no-obligation consultation.