Who is at Risk for Lead Paint Poisoning in Baltimore?
Lead paint poisoning poses significant health risks for everyone who suffer from exposure. Determining who is at risk for lead paint poisoning in Baltimore can be crucial to recognizing symptoms of lead paint poisoning and promptly treating them.
Families whose children and other members have sustained injuries from lead paint exposure may have legal recourse to seek compensation when negligent conduct has led to their injuries.
Negligent property owners and landlords who fail to maintain safe premises for tenants and take steps to minimize the risks of lead paint exposure could face liability when injuries occur. Injury victims may be eligible for a damages award as a result of the negligence of these individuals or entities.
A skilled lead paint poisoning lawyer may be able to advise injury victims of their rights and bring claims for compensation on their behalf when merited.
Baltimore Lead Paint Exposure
Lead paint exposure may arise in various contexts, but most often occurs when individuals have contact with lead paint chips or dust in older buildings. Although federal regulations prohibited the use of lead paint in housing beginning in 1978, older apartment buildings and homes still may have lead paint in them.
Renovations to remove lead paint, especially those that require sanding, may stir up dust that can lead to lead paint poisoning when inhaled. Cracked and peeling paint may result in children ingesting lead paint chips. Lead paint also may be present on some old toys, jewelry, and imported candy, among other items.
The Risks of Lead Paint
Although all human beings can suffer adverse effects of lead paint exposure, children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to injuries. For pregnant women, lead paint poisoning can lead to increased risks of stillbirth, miscarriage, or premature births. Newborn babies whose mothers have suffered from lead paint exposure may experience:
- Low birth weights and abnormally slow growth rates
- Developmental delays
- Seizures, convulsions, and loss of motor control
For these babies and other small children who ingest or inhale lead paint, complications may become more apparent as they grow. Impulsivity, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, and neuropsychological deficits all may develop as children age. Difficulties such as these may affect injury victims for the rest of their lives.
Furthermore, these deficits are particularly challenging and expensive to treat. Due to these lead paint poisoning risks in Baltimore, individuals who suspect that they or their children have been exposed to lead paint should seek medical attention as soon as any of these problems arise.
Compensation for Baltimore Lead Paint Poisoning
A personal injury lawsuit may be the most effective means of recovering compensation for lead paint poisoning. Through an injury claim, individuals may be able to seek damages for current and future medical expenses related to the treatment of their lead paint poisoning injuries. Other potentially compensable items may include:
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Permanent disability or impairment
- Loss of income or earning capacity
- Attorneys’ fees
The impact of lead paint poisoning on the physical and emotional health of injury victims can be significant. In many cases, the damage and injuries may be permanent. Seeking compensation for those who have suffered from the risks of Baltimore lead paint poisoning may be more attainable with the assistance of legal counsel.
Learn More About Baltimore Lead Paint Poisoning Risks
The risks of lead paint poisoning are high, especially when it comes to children and pregnant women. Understanding who is at risk for lead paint poisoning in Baltimore and taking steps to alleviate those risks can be essential for renters and occupants of old buildings to avoid potentially harmful effects. Nonetheless, when property owners act negligently in failing to protect their tenants from these hazards, they may face liability when injuries result.
Severe injuries resulting from lead paint poisoning can be highly debilitating and cause permanent impairments that require significant medical care. When negligent parties fail to protect others from these risks, they may be financially responsible for the resulting injuries. Through a personal injury lawsuit, your family may be able to seek compensation for your losses and move forward with your lives.
