If you or a loved one were exposed to benzene at work and were diagnosed with cancers such as leukemia, myelodysplasia (MDS), lymphoma, or multiple myeloma, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit and receive financial compensation.
Continue reading to learn more about who may be eligible to file a benzene lawsuit and learn about how you can start the process of taking legal action if you qualify to file a claim.
What Is Benzene?
Benzene is highly flammable, toxic, and recognized as a cancer-causing substance.
Benzene is widely used in the production of products such as dyes, detergents, plastics, and rubber ties. Benzene also occurs naturally in gasoline and crude oil.
Some workers may also have used benzene as a cleaning agent on the job. By using benzene to clean their tools, workers may be at a significantly-increased risk of serious illness.
Health Risks Linked to Benzene Exposure
Benzene exposure occurs when workers inhale fumes from this chemical while on the job.
Long-term exposure to benzene has been associated with several forms of cancer, including:
- Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
- Myelodysplasia (MDS)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
The cancer risk associated with benzene depends on how much of the chemical workers were exposed to, and for how long.
High-Risk Occupations and Job Sites
Benzene exposure is more common at certain types of workplaces. These include:
- Petrochemical plants
- Oil and petroleum refineries
- Industrial manufacturing facilities
- Rubber and tire manufacturing plants
- Coke and coal chemical production sites
- Jobs involving the storage or transport of benzene or petroleum-based products
Workers employed at these jobsites or in other occupations where benzene is commonly used may face an increased risk of developing cancer associated with exposure.
Eligibility to File a Benzene Lawsuit
To qualify for a benzene-related claim, all the following conditions must apply:
- You or your loved one worked at a petrochemical or industrial facility.
- Employment at the site occurred before 1980.
- A diagnosis has been made for one of the cancers linked to benzene, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, or myelodysplasia.
If you or a loved one meet all of these criteria, you may wish to contact a lawyer for a free legal consultation to find out whether you may qualify to file a claim.
Take the First Step Toward Justice
If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with cancer linked to benzene exposure – including leukemia, multiple myeloma, MDS, or lymphoma – don’t wait to seek help. You may be eligible to file a lawsuit and receive compensation.
For more information about filing a benzene lawsuit and to learn more about whether you may be eligible to take legal action, you can contact an experienced toxic torts attorney to get answers to your questions and start the process of filing a claim.
After assisting you or your family in determining whether you qualify to take legal action, your lawyer can help you gather all of the medical documents and other paperwork that might be necessary to prove your claim in a court of law.
Your attorney can also help you to begin the process of taking legal action and help you receive the compensation to which you are entitled under the law.
