If you were exposed to lead paint, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. is here to fight for your legal rights. Contact us to schedule an appointment with a New Hampshire Lead Paint lawyer.
New Hampshire Lead Paint Lawyers
Put 40 Years of Experience in Our Corner
Exposure to lead paint, even in small amounts, can be dangerous, especially to infants and young children. If you or your family were exposed to lead paint and suffered a serious illness, you might be able to file a claim or lawsuit against the liable party.
Figuring out the right place to start for a lead paint injury claim can be complex. You can begin by contacting the experienced team at Shaheen & Gordon.
Our lead paint attorneys offer reliable legal counsel to people across New Hampshire who have been unfairly exposed to unsafe lead paint in various circumstances. With our 40+ years of experience serving and representing clients in tough cases, we are confident that we’ll be ready to handle your lead paint claim, no matter the complexities.
How Lead Paint Exposure Happens
Lead paint exposure does not necessarily happen just by being in a room with lead paint on the walls. Touching lead paint with your hand or finger is also not immediately dangerous in every instance. Instead, lead paint exposure is the most dangerous when particles and pieces of lead paint are inhaled or swallowed. With normal wear and tear, paint can start to chip away and deteriorate into dust, so lead paint should be considered unsafe in most situations.
Infants and children are statistically at the highest risk of unsafe lead exposure. Not only are children more likely to ingest pieces of lead paint without knowing the dangers, but they are also the most likely to suffer a negative health condition due to exposure.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lead paint exposure most often happens due to:
- Painted walls in homes built before 1978 (the year lead-based paints were banned in the U.S. for residential properties).
- Painted children’s toys that have not been properly manufactured or inspected.
- Certain hobbyist paints or coatings that are still permitted to use lead in the materials.
Consequences of Lead Paint Exposure
Lead paint exposure can result in lead poisoning, especially in children. The greater the duration or severity of the exposure, the greater the risk of immediate, severe, or long-lasting symptoms.
Symptoms of lead poisoning can include:
- Developmental issues (in children)
- Learning difficulties
- Irritability or hyperactivity
- Sluggishness, fatigue and/or insomnia
Although lead poisoning is dangerous to everyone, studies show that it is more dangerous to young children who are still growing and developing.
Who is Liable for Lead Paint Exposure?
Liability in a lead paint exposure lawsuit will depend on the specifics of each case. You don’t have to lose sleep trying to figure out who should be liable for your illness and losses, though. Put our New Hampshire lead paint exposure attorneys on the case, and we can determine your liability.
A lead paint exposure claim or lawsuit might deal with two types of liability:
- Product liability: If you were exposed to lead paint found in a product, the product maker might be liable through product liability laws, especially if that product should not have contained lead in the first place.
- Premises liability: If you were exposed to lead paint due to where you live or work, the owner or manager of the premises could be liable.
Damages in Lead Paint Lawsuits
Compensation in a lead paint exposure lawsuit is meant to help the victim “whole” again after suffering losses due to illnesses and injuries caused by lead paint. Another way to phrase it is that compensation should help you get to a place of financial stability as if the unsafe exposure and health consequences never happened.
Our lawyers can work with various third-party experts – like medical providers, life-planning professionals, and financial analysts – to get a full picture of your damages and losses, including those that will likely happen far into the future.
The goal from the start is to get you the most compensation possible, whether that is achieved through a negotiated settlement or trial.
Damages that could apply to your lead paint exposure lawsuit are:
- Cost of past and future medical treatments.
- Pain, suffering, lessened enjoyment of life, and shortened life expectancy.
- Reduced future earning capacity if the child suffered a permanent
- Medical bills and treatment costs.
If your child was exposed to lead paint and suffered developmental problems as a result, we can factor those complications and losses into your claim as well. For example, your child might need a special education, which could be costly; your claim or lawsuit could demand compensation to pay for that special education.
NH Statute of Limitations for Lead Paint Claims
How much time do you have to file a lead paint exposure lawsuit in New Hampshire? Most civil injury claims are bound by a three-year statute of limitations that begins on the date of the injury. However, you might not know when you were first exposed to dangerous levels of lead paint.
For this reason, the three-year statute of limitations could begin on the date you became aware of or reasonably should have become aware of lead poisoning or exposure symptoms. In many cases when a child is poisoned, the amount of time to file a claim is extended. Our attorneys can research your situation to determine the statute of limitations, when it began, and when it ends.
Learn About Your Legal Options – Call Now
Let’s get your lead paint exposure lawsuit moving, especially if you aren’t sure when the statute of limitations might end. Our lead paint injury lawyers are standing by to hear from potential clients throughout New Hampshire and surrounding states. Whenever you need legal counsel or representation, we’ll be here.
