Montana PFAS Exposure & Contamination Attorney

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is the name given to a large group of chemical compounds made with highly durable chemical bonds. When these chemical compounds leak, they persist for a very long time and are extremely difficult to remove entirely, giving rise to their nickname of “forever chemicals.” Many PFAS are harmful, and if you have been exposed and fallen ill, a Montana PFAS lawyer is an essential resource to consult about your legal options.

Bliven Law Firm, P.C., has extensive experience helping clients throughout Montana with toxic exposure claims related to PFAS. We have the skills and resources necessary to gather the evidence you will need to prove liability if you have been diagnosed with any illness linked to PFAS exposure. You have limited time to build this type of case, so it’s important to consult a Montana PFAS exposure & contamination attorney at your first opportunity.

Experienced MT PFAS Exposure & Contamination Attorneys

Various industries use PFAS to manufacture products, including paint, cleaning solutions, nonstick coatings for cookware, and foam used to put out fires. Unfortunately, widespread and persistent use of such products has led to their release into the air, into water systems, and into the ground. Over time, accumulated PFAS creates a significant health hazard. Contamination manifests slowly over time due to the persistent and durable nature of these compounds.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports that 99% of Americans have some level of PFAS contamination in their blood. Starting in 1999, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) began measuring blood PFAS levels in the US population, tracking PFOS, or perfluorooctanesulfonic acid, and PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid. Levels of PFOS and PFOA have dropped 85% and 70%, respectively, since 2002.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) reports that about 45% of the US tap water systems are contaminated by at least one type of PFAS. However, it is important to note that there are more than 12,000 known PFAS, and not all of them can be detected using current chemical testing systems. The USGS was only able to test for the presence of 32 types of PFAS.

Aside from environmental contamination, many PFAS toxic exposure cases have arisen from the use of specific products. For example, firefighter turnout gear made using PFAS has been identified as a major contributing factor to firefighter cancer diagnosis rates throughout the United States.

Over time, turnout gear made with PFAS will shed these chemicals into the wearer’s skin, gradually accumulating and causing various adverse medical complications.

A Montana PFAS lawyer at Bliven Law Firm, P.C., is the ideal resource to consult if you believe that you have been exposed to PFAS. It’s possible for a manufacturer or other company to bear liability for any resulting damages, including future medical treatment costs, if your condition worsens over time. It is also possible to have grounds to file a case even if you have not yet been diagnosed with an illness, but contamination has been confirmed in your area.

Pursuing Legal Action for PFAS Exposure and Contamination in Montana

Many class-action lawsuits have arisen throughout the United States in recent years pertaining to PFAS exposure. Companies like 3M and DuPont have already been targeted with litigation due to their manufacture of products with PFAS and their failure to remove toxic products from the market.

Certain municipalities throughout the United States have also been met with litigation due to allowing PFAS contamination of water systems and the purchase of PFAS-contaminated gear for local firefighters.

PFAS exposure can cause various forms of cancer, reproductive harm, immune system dysfunction, and damage to the liver, kidneys, and other systems of the body. PFAS accumulation in the body grows slowly over time, so initial symptoms may be very mild at first, or there may be no symptoms at all. Some people afflicted by illness from PFAS exposure are not able to immediately identify the cause of their symptoms, leading to years of stress and confusion.

When a company is responsible for toxic exposure, holding them accountable can be challenging, but it is possible with the right attorney’s help. Many individuals, groups of individuals, and even local governments throughout the United States have filed major lawsuits in response to PFAS exposure and contamination against various large companies. You may have several options for pursuing legal recourse for your situation.

A class-action lawsuit is a complex legal case involving multiple plaintiffs with similar damages pursuing legal recourse against a single defendant. In PFAS toxic exposure and contamination claims, it’s likely that multiple parties all have grounds for legal action against a specific defendant. For example, you and your neighbors may all have grounds to form a class action against a local company that contaminated the groundwater in your area with PFAS.

The main advantage of joining a class-action lawsuit is that all plaintiffs are managed with a single case, which significantly speeds up legal proceedings. If the case is successful, the proceeds obtained from the defendant are then evenly divided among all plaintiff members of the class. A class-action lawsuit can proceed significantly faster than multiple individual claims would unfold.

Many of the companies throughout the United States that have manufactured products using PFAS did so knowing that these chemicals posed significant safety risks, and some concealed this fact and continued the use of products confirmed to be harmful. Others failed to take necessary steps to prevent PFAS from leaking into the local environment around production facilities, creating significant environmental hazards that will persist for many years.

How Your MT PFAS Exposure & Contamination Attorney Can Help

An experienced Montana PFAS lawyer at Bliven Law Firm, P.C., can be an essential asset to have on your side if you believe you have grounds to file a toxic exposure claim related to PFAS. These cases are inherently complex, and you may be daunted by the idea of confronting a major company to seek compensation for your damages. The right attorney on your side can allow you to approach the situation with confidence and a better chance of success.

Plaintiffs in PFAS exposure and contamination cases may have grounds to seek compensation for various damages, including:

• Property damage and out-of-pocket expenses related to environmental cleanup efforts. It is also possible for property owners to claim compensation for diminished property value if their area has been identified as a high-risk zone for PFAS contamination.
• Medical treatment costs. PFAS exposure can cause severe medical complications, including various cancers. If you can prove liability for such a condition, it is possible to hold the defendant accountable for the cost of any medical care you may need in the future.
• Lost income. A plaintiff who has fallen ill from PFAS exposure may have been unable to work for an extended time and may be unable to return to work in the future. In this case, the plaintiff likely has grounds to claim compensation for their lost income and lost future earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering. It is possible for a plaintiff to seek compensation for the physical pain they have endured because of their illness, as well as the psychological trauma of receiving a severe diagnosis. A skilled attorney can help their client recover compensation for physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

In addition to these damages, some plaintiffs may receive punitive damages at the court’s discretion. As the name implies, punitive damages are meant to punish a defendant for illegal misconduct or gross negligence. The amount they will be required to pay is left to the discretion of the court. If a company conceals hazardous practices, they are likely to face significant penalties as well as liability for punitive damages to affected victims.

It is important to note that in a class-action lawsuit, the proceeds of a successful case are divided equally among all plaintiffs. This could result in less compensation per plaintiff than they may have been able to secure with individual claims, but the tradeoff is that class-action cases are significantly faster.

Companies found liable for PFAS exposure and contamination throughout the United States have been forced to pay billions in damages to the victims of their hazardous products and practices. Bliven Law Firm, P.C., excels at representing clients in toxic exposure cases, and we are confident we have the skills, resources, and experience you need on your side for your PFAS exposure case.

Find Legal Counsel for PFAS Exposure in Montana

Bliven Law Firm, P.C., provides client-focused legal counsel for PFAS exposure and contamination cases throughout Montana. Trust our team to gather evidence and documentation you will need to build a compelling case. Whether you are seeking compensation for an illness you developed because of PFAS exposure or contamination of your area, we can provide ongoing support through all of the complex legal proceedings ahead of you.

During your initial consultation with our team, we can listen to your story and determine your most viable legal avenues to ensure accountability and recover compensation for the damages you suffered. It is vital to start building your case with an experienced attorney’s help as quickly as possible, so contact Bliven Law Firm, P.C., today and schedule a free consultation with a Montana PFAS lawyer you trust.