Has Your Child Been Harmed By Lead Paint?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of lead paint in residences in 1978 due to the dangers of lead poisoning.
Many of the older apartment buildings, single family homes and townhomes in New York and Connecticut contain lead paint, which is hazardous for children under the age of 6. Lead paint chips and peels, releasing toxins that may harm the kidneys or brains of young children. If lead paint was used on the exterior of the home, it can get tracked inside, mixed with dirt, dust or mud.
If your child has been injured or killed due to lead paint exposure, contact the law firm of the Law Office of Toby M. Schaffer in Stamford, Connecticut. You may be entitled to compensation for losses including medical expenses, therapy and rehabilitation. Skilled lead paint exposure attorney Toby M. Schaffer represents families in communities throughout Connecticut and the New York City metro region in premises liability claims.
Why Lead Paint Exposure Is So Dangerous
Lead is a dangerous metal. Small children may suck on peeling paint or chips, or touch the paint and put their hands in their mouths. Even a small amount of lead on a windowsill or in a toy can cause these conditions and disorders:
- ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Developmental delays
- Seizures
- Mental retardation
- Wrongful death claims
In 1996, the Environmental Protection Agency established residential lead hazard standards for landlords and property owners. Landlords, leasing agents and home sellers in Connecticut and New York State must by law disclose lead levels in the property, which must not exceed these levels:
- 40 micrograms of lead in dust per square foot on the floor
- 250 micrograms of lead in dust on per square foot on windowsills
- 400 parts per million of lead in bare soil where children play
- 1200 parts per million of lead in yard soil
What You Can Do About Lead Paint Exposures
If your landlord or home seller failed to provide a lead disclosure for the home you bought or are renting, you may be entitled to compensation if we can prove negligence or carelessness. You may also be able to bring an action against a contractor who was scheduled to perform work on an older residence, and failed to test for lead paint before sandblasting. Simple tests for lead exposure are readily available and very cost effective.
Let Us Review Your Case
The Law Office of Toby M. Schaffer will look at warranties of habitation, and pursue compensation for negligence through insurance coverage. We may also pursue a breach of contract suit against a contractor if dual negligence — performing the work incorrectly or unsafely and failing to test for lead — can be proven.
Call 203-883-9853 or contact us online to schedule a confidential appointment with personal injury lawyer Toby Schaffer.