Yes, you can sue for workplace toxic fume exposure. Inhaling toxic fumes can cause damage to the brain and other parts of the body. Warshafksy won a $7 million dollar settlement for a brain damage case that happened due to the negligence of an employer.
Ken was a seaman, working in the boiler room on one of the last coal-fired steamships on the Great Lakes. Tasked with unclogging certain grates, Ken had to enter the furnace area. The project should have been safe. The furnace had been shut down the night before. It was cool enough for work to be done safely.
He worked alone. No one thought anything was wrong until a crew member went to check on him. Ken was delirious, drifting in and out of consciousness. He was wracked with convulsions. As a teenager growing up near Lake Michigan, Ken had loved seeing the big boats crossing the lake. When old enough, he pursued his dream and became a Great Lakes seaman. Sadly, his dream turned into a nightmare.
Only 35 years old, Ken was unable to remember his wife or their two-month-old baby. His legal situation was challenging since the precise cause of Ken’s brain damage could not be determined. Experts decided it was likely due to a lack of oxygen along with inhaling toxic fumes – including hydrogen sulfide – from coal in the furnace.
The steamship company denied any accountability. Its attorneys argued the cause was a complete mystery. They even hinted the cause might be related to Ken’s medical history. It was time for a real Milwaukee workplace accident attorney.
Milwaukee personal injury attorneys from Warshafsky Law tore apart the flimsy defense in court. The steamship’s attorneys saw the writing on the wall. They advised the shipping company to offer $850,000 cash upfront and later provide monthly payments over the next 10 years, bringing the settlement’s grand total to more than $7 million. The money will help Ken’s guardian and his family pay for needed care. Of course, it cannot restore the health of Ken, along with his ability to earn a living and not be steeped in lifelong medical bills.
The Milwaukee personal injury attorneys of Warshafsky Law know how to effectively handle cases involving negligence, causing irreversible injury to employees. They prepare each case in a comprehensive manner, on the assumption the case will go to trial. In such circumstances, it is much more likely for the employer to settle out of court. Toxic chemicals found in asbestos are also commonly found on ships. If you have suffered injuries related to asbestos, contact a mesothelioma lawyer at Warahsafsky Law today.
This was another powerful Society Changing Judgment. When lawsuits involve significant societal issues, the judgments actually change society in profound ways. As word of Ken’s case made its way through the Great Lakes shipping industry, other shipping companies implemented tighter safety precautions.
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