Chemical Exposure at Work: What You Should Know?
April 25, 2025
If you have been injured by exposure to toxic chemicals at work, you may have a right to financial compensation. The type of compensation that you may deserve depends on the facts and circumstances of your exposure. You may either be able to file a Workers’ Compensation claim or a lawsuit against someone who was responsible for your injuries. Since you may have tight legal deadlines and time frames, you should contact an experienced Workers’ Compensation lawyer immediately.
Injuries From Chemical Exposure on the Job
Depending on the type of work that you do, you may be exposed to many different toxic chemicals on the job. These harmful chemicals could include:
- Pesticides
- Acids
- Solvents
- Ammonia
- Beryllium
- Tungsten
- Wood dust
- Asbestos
You could suffer an injury from direct contact with the chemical without the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Alternatively, you could be sickened over time due to the buildup of the effects of the chemical in your body. You may develop a serious illness that could even put your life in danger. For example, you may suffer from adverse respiratory effects from inhaling the chemicals, or you could develop Parkinson’s disease from exposure to toxic substances. Either way, you may be entitled to some form of compensation.
Can You Sue for Chemical Exposure on the Job?
Whether you may be able to sue for injuries suffered from chemical exposure depends on which party was responsible for it. If it was your employer who exposed you to toxic chemicals on the job, you can only sue them under very limited circumstances. The prevailing remedy in many job-related injury cases is a Workers’ Compensation claim. When your employer has paid Workers’ Compensation premiums, they become largely immune to negligence-based lawsuits. However, if you can prove that your employer intentionally exposed you to harmful chemicals on the job, knowing full well that you could be hurt, you may be able to file a lawsuit against them.
Suing Third Parties for Chemical Exposure on the Job
You would be able to file a lawsuit if you discovered that there was a third party to blame for your injuries. For example, you may have been working with chemicals on the job that were believed to be perfectly safe. However, the product itself could have been defective, causing you injuries. Then, you may be able to sue the manufacturer or seller in a product liability lawsuit.
There may also be other parties who were to blame for your injuries as well. For example, chemicals from an adjoining work site could have permeated your own job location without your employer’s fault. Then, you could sue the entity responsible for chemicals escaping into your environment. In that case, you would need to prove that the other party was negligent to hold them accountable in a lawsuit.
Why You Need a Lawyer for Chemical Exposure Cases?
You would need an experienced lawyer to investigate your case and help you determine your remedy. They would conduct a complete investigation of your chemical exposure and injuries to determine whether you may have potential grounds for a lawsuit. Then, they would determine exactly which parties were responsible and file a lawsuit against them.
Even a Workers’ Compensation case for chemical exposure on the job is no sure bet. The insurance company may dispute the fact that your injury came from chemical exposure. They may claim that you were sickened in another way, or that you were exposed in an environment other than your job. You may need to file a Workers’ Compensation appeal to get the benefits that you deserve.
Contact the Baltimore Workers’ Compensation Lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton Today to Discuss Your Work-Related Injury Claim
If you have been injured on the job, reach out to the Baltimore Workers’ Compensation lawyers at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton. For a free initial consultation, contact us online or call us today at 800-547-4LAW (4529).
We have offices in Baltimore and Owings Mills, allowing us to represent clients in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.