Lead Paint
Injuries
The law firm of
Epperly & Follis, P.C. handles catastrophic personal
injury cases against major defendants including nursing
homes, hospitals, insurance companies, product
manufacturers, corporations and municipalities. While we
have handled a variety of cases, one of the most
disturbing areas of personal injury involves lead paint
poisoning. Even though lead as an ingredient in paint has
been prohibited for almost 25 years in the United States,
more than 50% of children living in urban environments
continue to be exposed to lead paint in their homes and
environment. The hazards of lead-based paint have been
known since the early 1900s (when the use of lead in the
manufacture of paint was banned in Australia). However,
America's powerful lead mining and lead pigment industries
managed to avoid the banning of lead in the manufacture of
paint until 1978. In addition to paint, lead particles can
be found in leaded gasoline, vinyl mini-blinds, bath tubs,
drinking water, ceramics and other products. At Epperly
& Follis, P.C., we are committed to fighting for the
rights of lead paint poisoning victims and their families.
According to the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention, lead poisoning is one of
the most common health problems faced by children
nationwide. While adults absorb about 11 percent of lead
in the digestive tract, children can absorb up to 75
percent and may even be exposed while in the womb.
Children under the age of seven are at greatest risk of
lead poisoning because of their bodies' and brains'
sensitivity to even minute amounts of lead. Long after
exposure, lead poisoning can cause irreparable harm
including brain damage, learning disabilities, seizures,
coma, behavioral problems and death. While lead can impact
nearly every system in the body, there may be no obvious
symptoms of lead poisoning and it often goes unrecognized.
The Residential Lead-Based
Paint Hazard Reduction Act was passed in 1992 to address
the health problems associated with lead poisoning. Under
the law, every individual renting, buying or renovating an
apartment or home built prior to 1978 must be supplied
with the EPA pamphlet, "Protect Your Family From Lead
In Your Home" or a state-approved version of the
pamphlet. Landlords and tenants must also sign an
EPA-approved disclosure form that must be kept as part of
the property owners' records for three years from the date
of tenancy. In buildings or rental units constructed prior
to 1978, the EPA requires that tenants receive the lead
hazard information at least 60 days prior to the start of
renovation. Landlords who fail to comply with EPA
regulations may face penalties of up to $10,000 for each
violation. Property owners who neglect to obey local and
federal health and housing codes and regulations, or who
refuse to respond to a tenant's request for repainting may
be liable. Their negligence may have allowed lead-based
paint to deteriorate and become lead paint chips or the
lead-contaminated paint dust that poisons our children.
Children who are the
victims of the negligence and carelessness of landlords or
paint and pigment manufacturers are entitled to
compensation from those responsible. While the damage
caused by lead poisoning is permanent and unrecoverable,
economic recovery can help a child receive special
education, occupational therapy, medical care, and other
support. As with other personal injury and toxic tort
cases, lead-paint poisoning cases demand the attention of
expert attorneys experienced with lead poisoning lawsuits.
If you believe that you may
have suffered damages because of lead poisoning, contact
the legal team at Epperly & Follis, P.C. Our legal
professionals do not approach our cases as mere jobs, but
as causes in which larger issues are at stake - causes in
which the firm's lawyers invest personal dedication to see
that justice is done. If you or someone you love has been
injured by lead-based paint, please call us at
1-888-703-0109 or
(804) 648-6480, or
contact us via our online Contact
Form.
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