Chemical Spills and Accidents

Each year, thousands of chemical spills occur throughout the United States. If you work in a manufacturing plant, shipyard, oil refinery, large retail store, warehouse, school or in construction, you could have been injured as a result of a toxic chemical spill or accident.

Of the more than 40,000 chemicals in commercial use, most are subject to accidental spills or releases. Chemical spills and accidents can range from very small to very large and can occur anywhere chemicals are found, from oil drilling rigs to factories, tanker trucks to 55 gallon drums.

Exposure to toxic chemical spills and accidents can cause a person to suffer a variety of illnesses and injuries including cancer, burns, respiratory problems, skin rashes, eye injuries, poisoning, brain damage or even death in some circumstances.

The types of chemicals that can cause a person to suffer harm are numerous and include mercury, lead, ammonia, bleach, gasoline, chlorine, sodium hydroxide, nitrogen dioxide, phosgene, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, acid, benzine asbestos or other industrial chemicals.

Some chemicals are known to be carcinogenic, or cancer causing, and they include arsenic, asbestos, aeromatic amines, benzine, chromates, nickel and vinyl chloride.

The world’s worst industrial disaster occurred at a chemical plant. On December 3, 1984, a leak from the Union Carbide Pesticide Plant in Bhopal, India, released a cloud of lethal methyl isocyanate gas over the entire city of 500,000 people causing over 10,000 deaths. Another 100,000 to 200,000 people are estimated to have permanent injuries of different degrees. Unfortunately, the local health officials, who were unaware of the types of hazardous chemicals used at the factory, were completely unprepared for the tragedy.

If you feel that you have suffered from exposure to toxic chemicals at work, you may also be entitled to bring a lawsuit against the party responsible for the chemical spill, if it is a company or individual other than your employer.

Attorney Michael P. Foley, an experienced civil trial attorney, has handled numerous cases involving toxic chemical spills, including the case of a 38 year old man who suffered brain damage after he was exposed to toxic mercury fumes at the manufacturing plant where he worked.

If you would like further information as to how to pursue a claim for toxic chemical exposure, please fill out the contact form, or call us at (203) 250-7212. We will be happy to assist you with your claim and to answer any questions you may have regarding your situation.