For years a wide variety of products were made with lead paint. Toys, jewelry, ceramics, and even baby cribs were coated with lead-based paint. Lead paint was used because the lead in the paint helped it dry more quickly and last longer. It was not until 1978 that the government realized that the dangers of lead exposure outweighed any benefits and banned the use of lead paint within the United States. Lead poisoning occurs when the dangerous substances in the paint accumulates in the body. It only takes the ingestion of a small lead-based paint chip to cause injury to a child. Lead paint exposure can result in serious medical problems, such as kidney damage, mental impairment, memory loss, psychological disorders, learning disabilities, hearing loss, seizures, brain damage, and stunted growth. These medical problems can cause permanent impairment and result in extensive medical bills. If you or a loved one has suffered lead paint poisoning you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an experienced Brooklyn lead paint injury lawyer at Stephen Bilkis & Associates. With over 20 years of fighting for the legal rights of injured victims, we are here to help.
Danger of Lead PaintChildren under 6 years old are the most at risk for lead poisoning because their bodies are still developing. Lead exposure can result in damage to organs and cause learning and developmental problems. High levels lead poisoning can also cause dramatic symptoms such as deafness, convulsions, coma, brain injury and death. Low level exposures in children can lead to academic underachievement among other problems, and in adults it can lead to infertility, high blood pressure, and other serious health problems. If you are concerned about illnesses due to lead paint exposure, first contact you doctor, then contact an experienced Brooklyn lead paint injury lawyer.
Since the dangers of lead paint are now well understood, New York legislature passed laws that require landlords and apartment owners to test and remove lead paint when children are present. In addition, landlords are required to send an annual questionnaire to determine the ages of their tenants. If there is an occupant under 6 years of age they are required to remove the paint by a qualified professional. Landlords and apartment owners who fail to comply can face significant fines.
Pursuing DamagesIf you believe you or a loved one are suffering medical problems due to exposure to lead paint, you may be entitled to compensation. Depending on the facts of your case, the type of compensation to which you may be entitled includes reimbursement of expenses related to medical treatment, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Medical expenses include your past and future medical expenses that are related to treatment for your injuries such as emergency room treatment, hospital stay, doctors' fees, medication, rehabilitative services, and assistive technology. In addition, you may be entitled to lost wages. This means that you may receive damages for the wages you lost while recovering, as well as for compensation for loss of earning potential if as a result of your injuries you are unable to earn as much as you would have if you had not been injured. In addition, you may be able to collect damages for pain and suffering. Compensation for pain and suffering is reserved for those injuries that are severe enough to cause the victim extreme physical pain, or that cause the victim to suffer psychologically and emotionally.
To learn more about the compensation to which you might be entitled, contact an experienced lead paint injury attorney in Brooklyn. Note that if your lead paint injury is work-related, you may be entitled to worker's compensation benefits.
Contact Stephen Bilkis & AssociatesIf you suspect that you or your loved ones have been exposed to lead paint, contact Stephen Bilkis & Associates to discuss the details of your case. Our staff is experienced in winning substantial compensation for injured victims. Contact an experienced lead paint injury attorney serving Brooklyn at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County, Westchester County, and the Bronx.