Lead Poisoning

If you or someone you know has been involved in a lead poisoning case in Connecticut, we can assist you with your claim. Put our decades of legal experience to work for you. We will advance all fees and expenses for your case including hiring experts to strengthen your case. Once the case is concluded, we will be reimbursed for the costs out of the recovery. If no recovery is attained, you do not owe anything for the costs and expenses, which will be absorbed by us. All cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay us until we recover money for you.

1. What is Lead Paint Poisoning?

Every year thousands of children ingest lead paint and test positive for lead paint poisoning. Despite implementation of regulatory preventative measures, lead poisoning remains a chronic health issue, particularly for children. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 310,000 children have elevated lead levels. The US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Agency approximates one in 6 children has a high lead level in their blood.

Chronic lead paint poisoning is cumulative over a long period of time. Toxic concentration may occur after many years of a minimal degree of exposure to lead paint. Chronic lead poisoning is the most common form. Acute lead poisoning infrequently occurs due to the large amount of lead intake required over a relatively short period of time.

Most cases involve children approximately kindergarten age and younger that have been tested with a venous blood level over 25 microns per deciliter or higher. Usually cases are brought against the owner of the apartment or house that contained the lead paint.

Lead paint becomes brittle over time and deteriorates. This disintegration produces lead dust, particularly around windowsills and doorframes where friction is caused by the opening and closing of windows and doors. The dust settles on surfaces children come in contact with, such as floors and toys, and is transferred to their mouths by hands and toys. Another factor in lead paint poisoning is chipping or peeling. A child who eats a chip the size of a thumbnail will have ingested enough lead to be life endangering.

2. If I Have a Lead Paint Poisoning Case, What Should I Do?

It is extremely important that you contact us as soon as possible. It is critical not to do anything that might have a negative affect upon your case. We might advise you not to give any statements or sign any authorizations, so it is important to speak with us before you do something that could have a negative impact on your case. There are also potential notice requirements that, if missed, could result in the dismissal of your case.

3. How is Liability Determined?

The critical issue in many personal injury cases is just how a "reasonable person" would be expected to act in the situation that caused the injury. A person is negligent when he or she fails to act like a "reasonable person". Whether a given person has met the "reasonable person standard" is often a matter that is decided by a jury after the presentation of evidence and argument at trial. This is one of the many reasons why you should contact us as soon as possible so we can start to investigate and develop your case.

4. What Compensation Might I Receive If My Case is Successful?

Usually, a person who is liable for an injury-which generally means his or her liability insurance company-must pay an injured person for

You will be awarded "damages," or compensation, which is money intended to restore you to the position you were in before your injury. This money is not considered income (excluding monies paid for loss of income) and is not taxable as income by the federal or state government.

5. What Are Some Complications From Lead Paint Poisoning?

Children suffering from lead paint poisoning may exhibit any of the following symptoms:

A blood test is the only conclusive method to diagnose lead poisoning. For children at risk from lead paint poisoning, it is recommended blood tests be performed at six months of age. All other children should be tested at one and two years old. Testing is vital as the child may not demonstrate any symptoms of lead poisoning.

6. How Do I Go About Getting Experts To Help Me With My Lead Poisoning Case?

We will be able to hire a team of experts that can assist in the development of your care which, depending on your case, can range from a private investigator, to doctors, to economists.

7. Who Will Pay the Expenses of Hiring All Of These Experts?

In most cases, the law firm or attorneys will advance all costs and expenses of the case as they are incurred. Once the case is concluded, they would be reimbursed for their costs out of the recovery. In some states, even if there is no recovery, the client is still responsible for the costs and expenses of the case even though the client owes no legal fees. In other states, if there is no recovery, the client will owe nothing for the costs and expenses, which will be absorbed by the law firm or attorney.

8. Do Any of Your Attorneys Have Any Specialized Training or Awards?

One of our attorneys has received Advanced Negotiation Training at the Harvard Law School and is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum which is one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the U.S. For additional information please see our attorney biographies.

9. Why Should I Hire Hastings, Cohan and Walsh, LLP to Represent Me?

Because we are passionate about what we do and have decades of experience in representing Connecticut accident victims. Before you hire a lawyer, speak to an insurance adjuster, or sign any paperwork, order a copy of our free book "The Crash Course on Personal Injury Claims in Connecticut."

If you or someone you know has been injured due to a lead poisoning case, you should contact us as soon as possible. Don't delay in consulting us so we can get to work for you right away.

Please call us at 1-888-842-8466 or complete our online form on the right hand side of this web page and tell us about your case.