Chemical Exposure FAQs

Yes, punitive damages may be available where the defendant’s conduct showed willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, oppression, or conscious disregard of the consequences to others (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1). Chemical companies that concealed known toxicity data, continued selling dangerous products after internal warnings, or falsified safety records are frequent targets for punitive damages claims. In product liability cases, the statutory cap may not apply at all.

Absolutely. Temporary workers and independent contractors placed at a factory by a staffing agency are among the most vulnerable workers in Georgia — and they have some of the strongest third-party claims. Because the host employer (factory) is typically not the direct employer of the temp worker, it can be sued directly as a third party for premises liability and negligent supervision. HBLG has extensive experience representing temp workers and contractors injured at Georgia industrial facilities.

Chemical exposure and wrongful death cases are complex and typically take 1–3 years to resolve, depending on the number of defendants, the complexity of the medical and scientific evidence, and whether the case goes to trial. HBLG moves these cases aggressively. We do not let defendants delay justice indefinitely. If a defendant refuses to offer fair compensation, we are ready to go to trial — as our $30 million DeKalb County verdict demonstrates.

Workers’ compensation provides limited, no-fault benefits: medical expenses and a portion of lost wages. It does not compensate for pain and suffering, full lost earning capacity, or punitive damages, and your employer cannot be sued directly. A third-party lawsuit is a separate civil claim against a non-employer who contributed to your injury — such as a chemical company, machine manufacturer, or property owner. Third-party claims can yield full compensatory and punitive damages. HBLG pursues both avenues simultaneously to maximize your recovery.

Causation is the most complex element in a Georgia toxic tort case. You must prove general causation (the chemical can cause this type of injury) and specific causation (the chemical actually caused your injury). This requires expert testimony from toxicologists, occupational physicians, and industrial hygienists. At HBLG, we have a network of top-tier experts who specialize in establishing chemical causation in Georgia courts.

In most cases, Georgia’s Workers’ Compensation Act (O.C.G.A. § 34-9-11) bars direct lawsuits against your direct employer. However, if a third party — such as a chemical manufacturer, equipment supplier, property owner, or contractor — contributed to your injury, you may bring a separate third-party personal injury lawsuit against them. This is where the largest recoveries typically occur. HBLG will identify every potential third-party defendant in your case.