New York City Toxic Exposure Lawyer

The buildings and environments in which we spend our lives often contain hidden dangers in the form of toxic substances like mold and dangerous chemicals. Exposure to these substances — found in a wide range of building materials and everyday products — can lead to dangerous, potentially life-threatening illnesses and conditions. Unfortunately, these health issues may take years to display symptoms and can be very difficult to treat.

Have you suffered an injury or developed an illness or chronic health condition after exposure to toxic substances? You may have the right to obtain compensation for your recovery by filing claims against parties responsible for your exposure. However, corporations responsible for exposing people to harmful toxins may fight hard to avoid liability for the harm they’ve caused. A New York City toxic exposure lawyer from Harford, P.C., will stand up to large corporations and insurers to hold them accountable for your injuries.

Toxic exposure victims turn to founding attorney Scott A. Harford for his in-depth experience as a former attorney for Fortune 500 corporations and insurers. He has seen how these deep-pocketed companies squash legal claims and take advantage of injured individuals to avoid financial liability for their harmful actions. Today, Scott uses his legal knowledge and experience to fight for victims’ rights and interests. He develops compelling legal arguments that account for how defendants try to avoid responsibility for harming his clients through toxic exposure.

After suffering injuries or illness due to toxic exposure in New York, get the legal help you need to hold liable parties accountable. Contact Harford, P.C., for a free, no-obligation initial case review. You’ll learn how a toxic exposure lawyer in New York City can help you seek damages for your medical bills, long-term care, lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life. 

Why You Should Hire a New York City Toxic Exposure Lawyer

Toxic exposure can cause you to suffer severe, potentially life-threatening injuries or illnesses. Hiring a New York City toxic exposure lawyer means you’ll have an experienced legal representative in your corner. They can handle all the aspects of pursuing compensation and justice from liable parties so you can focus your time and energy on your medical care. 

At Harford, P.C., we’ll handle every detail of your case, including:

• Thoroughly investigating your claim and recovering evidence to build as strong a case as possible, including medical records, witness accounts, business records, and expert testimony
• Documenting your injuries or illness and working with medical, vocational, and financial experts as needed to determine the extent of your ongoing and anticipated future losses and needs
• Identifying parties you can hold liable for your injuries and losses and evaluating legal avenues to seek compensation for you
• Preparing and filing your insurance and legal claims
• Negotiating with insurance adjusters, corporate representatives, and defense lawyers to pursue full financial recovery for you through a settlement
• Taking your case to court and trial when liable parties deny responsibility or refuse to make a fair settlement offer, aggressively litigating your claims to hold those parties accountable

More importantly, we at Harford, P.C., recognize the financial consequences our clients’ injuries and illnesses impose. That’s why we’ll never ask you to pay out of pocket for the legal services you need. We work on a contingency-fee basis, which means we only collect fees and reimbursement for case expenses if we secure compensation through a settlement or trial verdict.

What Should You Do After Toxic Chemical Exposure?

After exposure to toxic chemicals, substances, or biological materials, you can take steps to put yourself in the best position to pursue compensation claims to obtain the financial recovery you need. Things you should do after a toxic chemical exposure include:

• Seek prompt medical attention to diagnose your injuries or illnesses and begin treatment.
• Closely follow your doctor’s treatment plan and recovery instructions.
• Get copies of all medical records related to the treatment of your toxic exposure-related injury or illness.
• Keep all bills, invoices, receipts, and other paperwork related to your case.
• Gather copies of your pay stubs for use in calculating your lost income if you need to take time off work or experience reduced earnings due to your injury or illness.

Finally, contact a New York City toxic exposure attorney at Harford, P.C., to discuss how we can help you pursue compensation and accountability from those responsible for your harm. 

What Kinds of Damages Can You Pursue in a Toxic Exposure Case?

After experiencing toxic exposure, you may have the right to pursue legal claims against liable parties to compensate you for any resulting injuries or illness. Your toxic exposure compensation can include money for your:

• Medical expenses, including costs of emergency treatment, hospitalization, prescription medications, surgical procedures, specialized treatment, doctor appointments, physical therapy, and rehab
• Lost income, including income reduction due to temporary restrictions on your abilities or hours and loss of earning capacity if you can no longer work in your previous position or industry
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering, including costs associated with mental health treatment
• Loss of enjoyment or quality of life due to disabilities or physical limitations
• Reduced life expectancy from chronic or terminal illness

When toxic exposure causes a person’s death, their surviving family members may have the right to recover compensation for losses through a wrongful death claim. These losses include:

• Medical expenses incurred to treat the decedent’s fatal injury or illness
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Conscious pain and suffering experienced by the decedent before their death
• Loss of the decedent’s financial support to their family
• The value of services the decedent performed for their household
• The value of the decedent’s parental nurturing, care, and guidance to their children
• Loss of inheritance

Who Could Be Responsible for Toxic Exposure Injuries and Illnesses?

Who can be held liable for toxic exposure in New York City? Various parties may bear responsibility for toxic exposure depending on the circumstances leading to the exposure event. Examples of parties you might seek financial recovery from for toxic exposure injuries and illnesses include:

• Suppliers of toxic chemicals or materials 
• Manufacturers of products containing toxic materials, such as manufacturers of asbestos, herbicides, or pesticides
• Businesses that discharge toxic chemicals into the surrounding environment
• Property owners or management companies responsible for the growth and spread of dangerous bacteria, molds, or fungi
• Contractors or construction companies that fail to take safety precautions to prevent the spread of toxic substances or materials from project sites
• Transport companies that negligently cause toxic exposure via a motor vehicle crash or handling accident

How Long Do You Have to File a Toxic Exposure Injuries Lawsuit in New York?

Under New York’s statute of limitations, you typically have three years to file a toxic exposure lawsuit against the party or parties responsible. However, some circumstances may affect the deadline for taking legal action. For instance, when the state or local government bears responsibility for your toxic exposure, the law requires you to file a notice of claim with the government within 90 days of your injury.

New York law further states that for claims arising from exposure to substances, the deadline will begin to run from the date that you discover or should have discovered the injury or illness, or one year after discovering the cause if you do so within five years of discovering your injury or illness.

When you’ve lost a loved one due to injury or illness caused by toxic exposure, the statute of limitations gives you two years and six months to file a wrongful death lawsuit to pursue financial recovery for your loved one’s and your family’s losses. 

Because various circumstances can affect the applicable deadlines for your toxic exposure claim, contact Harford, P.C., as soon as possible. This will give you the best chance of filing your claims on time so you do not lose your opportunity to seek compensation.