Seeking Compensation for a Miscarriage Caused by Lead Exposure in the Workplace

Being exposed to lead can have dangerous effects on your body. Adults who suffer from prolonged lead exposure can experience symptoms like high blood pressure, headaches, nausea, and vomiting. Children can suffer developmental delays and brain damage. Developing fetuses can suffer the effects of lead poisoning as well. Babies who are exposed to lead poisoning in utero can be born too small, too early, or suffer from organ damage. In some cases, lead poisoning can also cause a woman to suffer a miscarriage.

If you are exposed to lead at work, regardless of whether you are pregnant or not, work with your employer to have the lead removed from your environment to make it safer for you and your colleagues. If you are pregnant, take extra precautions when handling lead-based products and when working in environments where lead is present. If you suffer a miscarriage or other pregnancy or birth complication due to your exposure to lead at work, you may consider filing a workplace injury claim to seek compensation for your damages.

Seeking compensation for any injury due to a workplace accident requires the claimant to prove that his or her damages were directly caused by the accident. In a lead exposure case, you will need to prove that this was the reason why you miscarried. Talk to your doctor about your exposure to lead at work and how it could have contributed to your miscarriage. Your medical records and your doctor's testimony are important pieces of evidence to support your claim.

In California, the statute of limitations for workplace accident claims is two years from the date of the accident or discovery of the condition. In the case of a miscarriage, the statute of limitations would go into effect on the day you realized that you miscarried. With your workplace accident claim, you can seek compensation for the medical care you need following the miscarriage, the wages you lost due to having to take time off from work, and any mental health treatment you need to process the emotions that can accompany a miscarriage. Losing a pregnancy can be traumatic and lead to mental health issues like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Talk to your doctor about these issues and how to treat them if you experience them.

If you suffered a miscarriage and you think it was due to conditions you experienced on the job, you could be entitled to monetary compensation for your damages related to the miscarriage through a workplace accident claim. To learn more about your rights as a victim, contact our team of experienced San Jose workplace accident attorneys at Corsiglia, McMahon, & Allard, L.L.P. Call our firm today to set up your initial legal consultation in our San Jose office. We proudly serve clients throughout the Bay Area, San Mateo County, Alameda County, San Benito County, Monterey County, and Santa Clara County.

• Pregnant Women