Oregon PFA Exposure & Contamination Attorney

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are chemical compounds that have highly durable chemical bonds, meaning they can persist for a very long time when they are released into the environment. Also commonly called forever chemicals, they can be extremely harmful, causing various adverse health effects over time with consistent exposure. An Oregon PFAS lawyer can explain your legal options if you have been harmed by these substances.

The OR PFAS exposure & contamination attorneys at Bliven Law Firm, P.C., have helped many clients throughout Oregon with toxic exposure claims pertaining to PFAS. We are confident in our skills and experience when it comes to navigating PFAS exposure and contamination cases. If you have been diagnosed with any medical condition that has been linked to PFAS, we can help you determine your legal options.

Experienced OR PFAS Exposure & Contamination Attorneys

Many industries have created products using PFAS, including cleaning products, paints, nonstick coatings, firefighting foam, and much more. Additionally, companies have released PFAS into the environment with their industrial waste. Widespread use of PFAS over many years has resulted in accumulation in water systems throughout the country.

Due to the highly durable nature of these compounds, even small amounts of contamination can accumulate into serious hazards over time.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), up to 99% of Americans carry some level of PFAS contamination. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) started measuring blood PFS levels throughout the United States in 1999.

NHANES tracking levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) have detected that PFOS and PFOA have respectively dropped 85% and 70% since 2002.

Another report from the US Geological Survey (USGS) reports that as many as 45% of all tap water systems throughout the United States are contaminated by at least one type of PFAS. Unfortunately, the study was only able to test for the presence of 32 PFAS, and there are currently more than 12,000 known PFAS, some of which cannot be detected using currently available methods. The actual contamination percentage is likely higher.

Medical complications from PFAS have arisen from the use of contaminated products as well as environmental exposure. One example is firefighter turnout gear, specialized fireproof equipment that firefighters throughout the United States must use to stay safe while fighting fires. However, the PFAS found in firefighter turnout gear can gradually shed into users’ skin, eventually causing various forms of cancer and other medical complications.

An experienced Oregon PFAS lawyer at Bliven Law Firm, P.C., is an essential asset if you believe that you or a loved one has fallen ill from PFAS exposure. A specific manufacturer or company could bear liability for your damages, such as the medical treatment costs you face if your illness requires ongoing care. Some individuals will have grounds for legal recourse even if they have not yet been diagnosed if PFAS contamination is confirmed in their area.

Building Your PFAS Exposure and Contamination Case in Oregon

There have been several high-profile class-action lawsuits filed against PFAS product manufacturers in the United States, like 3M and DuPont. Some of these companies failed to disclose the health hazards presented by their products, while some actively concealed this knowledge, continuing to sell products made with PFAS despite the known health risks.

PFAS exposure has been linked to many forms of cancer, liver and kidney disease, reproductive harm, immune system failures, and various other severe medical complications. PFAS accumulate inside the body gradually over time, and the health complications they create do not always cause immediately noticeable symptoms. Some people will have no symptoms at all until these conditions reach critical stages.

When a specific company is responsible for toxic exposure, affected victims are likely to be confused and daunted when it comes to pursuing legal recourse. There have been many individuals, groups, and even local governments throughout the country that have filed major lawsuits alleging liability for PFAS exposure and contamination against many large companies. You may have multiple legal options available to you in this situation.

For example, you could have grounds to file an individual toxic exposure claim, but you may also qualify to join a class-action lawsuit already in progress. There are some advantages and some drawbacks to this path, however. Class-action lawsuits are legal cases in which multiple plaintiffs allege similar damages against a single defendant. This case is easier than managing many individual claims, but individual payouts are generally lower.

The main advantage of a class-action lawsuit is that all plaintiffs are managed in a single case, usually with minimal active participation from most members of the class. The attorneys managing the class action handle everything, and this case can also gain a great deal of public attention, further pressuring the defendant to change their practices to avoid harming more victims in the future.

Several companies throughout the United States have been found liable for medical complications and economic damages due to releasing products containing PFAS. Some of these companies knowingly produced and sold these products despite knowing the risks, and some even concealed their knowledge of these health risks. Others released PFAS into the air, ground, and water, potentially causing severe health hazards that will persist for years or decades.

How an OR PFAS Exposure & Contamination Attorney Can Help

An Oregon PFAS lawyer at Bliven Law Firm, P.C., can be an invaluable asset to your recovery efforts if you have been harmed by any kind of PFAS. These cases are extremely complicated, and it will be crucial to have an experienced attorney’s help to have the greatest chance of success with the case. You may be entitled to more compensation than you expect, and your attorney can help you maximize your recovery.

A plaintiff in a PFAS toxic exposure lawsuit may have grounds to seek compensation for various economic and non-economic damages, such as:

• Loss of property value after their area was confirmed as contaminated by PFAS. Certain plaintiffs may also qualify to seek compensation for any expenses related to PFAS environmental cleanup projects.
• Medical expenses. If you or a family member is diagnosed with a medical condition caused by PFAS exposure, you have the right to seek compensation for the cost of all immediate and future medical expenses related to the diagnosis. This could include the cost of cancer treatment and other ongoing care you require for your diagnosis.
• Lost wages. If you are unable to work due to your illness from PFAS contamination, you likely have grounds to claim compensation for your lost income. If you are unable to work in the future due to your condition, your Oregon PFAS lawyer can also help you claim compensation for your lost future earning capacity and the income you may have been able to earn in the future if you hadn’t fallen ill.
• Pain and suffering. A successful toxic exposure lawsuit can yield compensation for physical pain, psychological suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life following a diagnosis of a critical medical condition such as cancer. Your Oregon PFAS lawyer can be a valuable asset for maximizing this aspect of your case award or settlement.

In addition to the damages you successfully claim with the help of your attorney, you may also receive punitive damages at the court’s discretion, especially if the facts show the defendant knew of the risks their operations and/or products presented but failed to disclose or actively concealed. Bliven Law Firm, P.C., will do everything we can to maximize the results of your PFAS exposure case in Oregon.

In order to maximize your recovery, you must be ready to prove that your claimed damages solely resulted from exposure to PFAS and that the defendant is liable for your exposure. These cases can be challenging as exposure to PFAS is typically gradual, and it can be difficult to accurately determine the exact source of your condition. However, an experienced attorney can help build the framework of your case and identify the party or parties liable for your condition.

If you decide to join a class-action lawsuit already in progress, it may be easier to navigate these proceedings, and it will require less active participation, but you will likely receive far less compensation than you could potentially secure from an individual toxic exposure case. Your attorney can advise you as to what your most viable recovery options are for your situation.

Finding Your Oregon PFAS Lawyer

The attorneys at Bliven Law Firm, P.C., offer compassionate and responsive legal representation for all types of PFAS exposure and contamination cases throughout Oregon. Our firm can provide ongoing guidance and support through all stages of your proceedings, from gathering the evidence you will need to prove liability to accurately calculating the full scope of your claimable damages.

You need to start building your case as soon as you can, once you have been diagnosed with any type of PFAS-related medical condition. Bliven Law Firm, P.C., looks forward to assisting you with your legal proceedings, so contact us today and schedule a free initial case evaluation with an experienced Oregon PFAS lawyer.