Pre-Settlement Funding: Lead Exposure & Poisoning Lawsuits
Lead exposure and poisoning can result from a number of different products that millions of people use in their everyday lives or may even be the direct result of the environment that they’re exposed to daily. Most people who get sick as a result of lead exposure and poisoning are often surprised because exposure can come from something as simple as the paint in their home or the toys that their children play with. More specifically, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that homes built before 1978 may be more likely to have been painted with paint that contains lead. Lead poisoning can result from the paint cracking, and people in the home inhaling particles from the cracked paint.
Living near an airport can also put people at risk of lead poisoning by being exposed to lead in the air and tainted soil from aviation gas. Additionally, water pipes may contain lead, in addition to jewelry and candies. There are also a variety of foods, medications, and cosmetics that may contain lead, in addition to tap water, which can result in lead poisoning when consumed. Unfortunately, there is no way to know if tap water contains lead just by tasting it, as there is no way to smell, taste, or see lead in water. Because of all the different sources of potentially dangerous levels of lead, people may be unknowingly exposing themselves to lead.
Individuals working in the following industries or performing the following tasks daily may also be exposed to lead regularly:
- Building demolition
- Product manufacturing with lead-containing materials
- Sanding and/or painting steel structures and industrial equipment
- Cutting and welding
- Certain renovations and repairs, including painting
- Cleanup and abatement of residential and commercial buildings
- Demolition of buildings and structures
- Melting lead-containing products
- Recycling certain materials
- Certain materials frequently used in art projects, such as ceramic glaze, and stained glass
Aside from working in certain industries, people may unknowingly be putting themselves at risk of lead paint exposure through various hobbies and recreational activities. Some examples include shooting firearms during target practice, soldering or casting (i.e. stained glass), or using glaze or pigments that contain lead. Even repairing or remodeling a home can potentially be hazardous if the materials used during the process contain lead.
While anyone can suffer from adverse effects of lead exposure and poisoning, certain people are more vulnerable to serious illness than others, including children and pregnant women. In children, no amount of lead exposure is safe and it has been reported that children who have been exposed to lead may suffer from:
- Brain damage
- Learning challenges
- Behavioral issues
- Speech and hearing problems
- Inability to focus
- Poor school performance
- Lower IQ
- Nervous system damage
- Delayed growth and development
Lead poisoning is diagnosed through a blood test. Children may be tested as a precautionary measure during their annual exams; in some cases, people are tested because they are already exhibiting symptoms. Being exposed to lead and receiving a lead poisoning diagnosis can be shocking, especially if you and/or your children have gotten sick as a result, and it can be particularly disheartening to know that it could have easily been avoided.
If you are currently working with an attorney on your lead poisoning case, you may have questions regarding the timeline of your case and when it will settle. Because your attorney is likely working to get you the highest settlement possible, it may take a while for things to finalize, but this doesn’t mean you have to wait to receive money. At USClaims, we may be able to provide you with some money through a lawsuit advance while you wait. Contact us today for more information.