Personal Injury & Toxic Torts

Wheeling, West Virginia, Personal Injury and Toxic Tort Lawyers

Every day, workers and even their family members are exposed to products and chemicals that can cause deadly diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and blood cancers. For more information about toxic exposure and occupational diseases, please click on one of the headings below.

If you have an occupational disease, it's important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after you find out that you are ill. The statute of limitations that applies to personal injury and wrongful death cases is two years in West Virginia. Depending on which state you live, the statute of limitations could be longer or shorter.

Mesothelioma

Many of our clients had jobs that involved working with asbestos, such as bricklayers, construction workers, insulators, mechanics, pipe fitters and roofers. Others do not know how they were exposed to asbestos. Since the latency period (the time it takes to develop mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos) can be as long as 40 years, our lawyers will need to complete an extensive investigation in order to gather the evidence that is needed to prove your case.

Lung Cancer

If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer and you did not have any risk factors such as smoking, you may have been exposed to a toxic substance at work. Examples of toxic substances that can cause lung cancer are asbestos and diesel exhaust.

Blood Cancers

There are many types of solvents that have a causative relationship with blood cancers. Workers at risk of developing leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma from solvent exposure include truckers, rubber workers, chemical workers, gasoline haulers, painters, mechanics, and railroad workers and power plant employees.

Solvents

Solvents are often used as degreasers and as paint thinners. Solvents such as benzene are also used in chemical plants to manufacture products. Exposure comes from inhalation (breathing) or dermal (skin) contact.

Benzene

The American Petroleum Institute made a determination in 1948 that there was no safe level of exposure to benzene. It is closely linked to blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Rubber Workers

Major tire manufacturers such as Michelin, Firestone, Goodyear, Goodrich, Armstrong and Continental were told in 1980 by the University of North Carolina and Harvard University that their workers were developing lymphomas and leukemias. However, none of the major tire companies did anything to protect their workers or inform them of the cancer risk.

Gasoline Haulers

If you look at the pump when you are filling your car with gas, you will see a warning label that says breathing gasoline fumes causes cancer in laboratory rats. However, the major refineries do not warn gasoline tanker truck drivers and offer little in the way of protection other than gloves and work boots. In addition to gasoline haulers, mechanics are at risk of benzene exposure from breathing gasoline fumes.

Auto Accidents

Car accidents are not simple cases. If you have suffered a soft tissue injury (such as a neck or back injury in which no bones were broken), the insurance company may not treat you or your claim seriously. However, soft tissue injuries can persist for a long time and even result in chronic pain.

Work-Related Accidents

West Virginia workers' compensation laws prevent injured workers from filing personal injury lawsuits against their employers in most cases. However, there are exceptions when you have a right to sue the person who injured you at work.

Free attorney consultation: If you or a family member has been diagnosed with a deadly disease such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma, please contact our toxic tort lawyers as soon as possible. We will investigate your case at no cost, and you will not have to pay any attorney's fees unless we obtain a recovery for you.