Unfortunately, companies across the U.S. regularly violate federal, state and local environmental laws regulating the discharge of toxic wastes and other pollutants into the environment. As a result, toxic chemicals and other environmental hazards can be found in our homes, schools and workplaces. The long-term exposure to these pollutants can lead to a number of adverse health conditions-including respiratory illnesses, neurological disorders, and many forms of acute cancer. At the Scanlan Law Group, we have more than 25 years of experience in representing individuals who have been injured by pollution and other environmental hazards-hazards that are found in the air, soil and water.

In the air, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the federal agency that regulates the environment, has identified 188 separate toxic air pollutants, which are defined as substances that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as birth defects. Examples of toxic air pollutants include benzene, which is found in gasoline; perchlorethlyene, a chemical used in dry cleaning plants; and methylene chloride, an industrial solvent used in the paint industry. There are a number of other toxic air pollutants, including dioxin, asbestos, toluene, and metals such as cadmium, mercury, chromium, and lead compounds.

Our water and soil are also home to a number of different harmful pollutants. As a result of industrial dumping, and the by-product of industrial and chemical processes, pollutants such pesticides, lead, arsenic, trichloroethylene (TCE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are discharged into our drinking water supplies. Common soil contaminants include arsenic, benzene, cyanide, lead and mercury. Pollutants in the soil can also be transported to groundwater sources and into the air.

Although the EPA works with state and local governments to safeguard the environment, it cannot adequately police the millions of environmental violations that occur each year. Sadly, it is often left to those who are injured by exposure to environmental hazards, and their private attorneys, to file lawsuits to recover for their injuries, and to deter polluters from future violations of the environmental laws.

In many instances, you may be entitled to substantial money damages for injuries caused by exposure to an environmental hazard, even in a case involving what may appear to you to be a minor injury. You can recover any medical expenses you have had to cover as a result of your injury, such as doctor and hospital bills, medications, therapy, home health care and all other related medical expenses, as well as any future medical expenses you reasonably expect to incur. You can also recover for the physical pain and suffering you have sustained, your out of pocket expenses, your mental and emotional anguish, your lost wages, benefits and other compensation, any loss of your future earning capacity, and the future diminishment of your enjoyment of life. Additionally, in some cases, if your spouse or child has been injured, you may be entitled to collect damages for the loss of pleasure or companionship you have experienced as a result of their injuries. And in certain extreme cases, where the wrongdoer's conduct is extreme and outrageous, you may be entitled to collect punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer and to prevent the misconduct from being repeated in the future.

Although the damages available in environmental cases can be substantial, the cases can be incredibly complex and present many roadblocks to a substantial recovery. In the typical case, an individual may be exposed to a toxic chemical for years before any symptoms of disease manifest themselves. By that time, the polluter may be out of business, the statute of limitations may have run, the evidence of pollution may have dissipated, and witnesses with knowledge of the wrongdoing may have disappeared or have forgotten the important details of the case. Additionally, in almost every environmental case, you'll need to assemble a team of expert scientific witnesses-such as chemists, microbiologists, physicians, public health officials, and environmental consultants-to identify the specific pollutants in question, trace them to their source, and demonstrate that they caused your injuries.

Accordingly, you need experienced and aggressive attorneys to handle a complex environmental injury case. The Scanlan Law Group knows how to handle these cases. We have fought industrial giants that have poisoned the environment, and we have recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of our clients. If you'd like to know a little bit more about what we can do for you, take a look at some of the environmental cases we have handled for our clients. If you have any questions, or if you believe that you or someone you know may have been injured as a result of exposure to an environmental hazard, please contact the Scanlan Law Group for a free initial consultation.