Dioxin poisoning can result in an array of different symptoms. Although some of the symptoms are reasonably mild and treatable, some of the symptoms are serious, life-changing and not always able to be treated. Importantly, if you have suffered from dioxin poisoning, you may be able to make a dioxin poisoning claim for compensation.

If you have suffered dioxin poisoning, please contact us on 0800 6524 881 to determine if you’re eligible to claim compensation. To learn more about the process first, please read the rest of this guide.

What Is Dioxin Poisoning?

Dioxins are a group of compound chemicals that may be created naturally or generated through certain man-made industrial processes such as the manufacture of pesticides and metals. They are also found in low levels in domestic fires and hospital waste.

Exposure to low levels of dioxins is relatively common and harmless. However, exposure to high levels of dioxins can result in dioxin poisoning. This usually occurs in workplaces that either use or emit dioxins. Outside of the workplace, dioxin poisoning can occur when toxic substances are incinerated in an open space without putting measures in place to prevent dioxins from leaking into the atmosphere.

Am I Eligible To Make A Dioxin Poisoning Compensation Claim?

To be able to make a successful compensation claim for dioxin poisoning, a personal injury solicitor will first need to verify the following:

• You were owed a duty of care; and
• The defendant breached that duty of care through negligence: and
• You suffered dioxin poisoning because of the defendant’s negligence.

Once a solicitor has established all these facts, and if they take the claim on, they can then set about gathering evidence to support the claim to have the best chance of securing you the maximum amount of compensation.

What Causes Dioxin Poisoning?

When a person ingests or inhales significant amounts of contaminated dust, or if a person’s skin comes into repeated contact with substances that are contaminated, dioxin poisoning is can occur.

Symptoms can be anything from mild to very severe. The severity may depend on how the chemical entered the body, or how much of it entered the body. If the exposure is frequent, but at lower levels, the symptoms of the poison may take longer to become apparent.

In the long term, if the doses of dioxins are high, serious medical issues may occur.

Causes And Consequences Of Dioxin Poisoning

The severity of dioxin poisoning and the resultant symptoms depend on the length of exposure, how the chemical entered the body, and how much of the chemical entered the body.

Nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal pain are some of the immediate symptoms that manifest after significant exposure to dioxins within a short period. When the exposure is at lower levels but occurs repeatedly over extended periods of time, it may take some time for the effects of the poison to become apparent.

In the long term, high doses of dioxin can cause serious medical issues including:

• Birth defects.
• Organ damage, particularly kidney and liver damage.
• Certain cancers.
• Compromised immune system.
• Chloracne is a serious skin disease that manifests as acne-like lesions.
• Decreased fertility.
• General health problems such as chronic fatigue.
• Eye irritations.
• Respiratory infections.
• Excessive hair growth.
• Irritating rashes accompanied by discoloured skin.

If you’ve suffered dioxin poisoning and believe somebody else’s negligence was the cause, please contact our advisors today to check your eligibility to make a dioxin poisoning compensation claim.

Who Is At Most At Risk Of Dioxin Poisoning?

Workers in certain industries are at a higher risk of dioxin poisoning in the workplace due to a variety of reasons. Those who may be at greater risk include those who work in:

• Chemical manufacturing – During the production of certain chemicals in chemical manufacturing facilities, workers may be exposed to dioxins. They may also be exposed through the release of waste products contaminated with dioxins.
• Waste Management – Refuse workers may be exposed to dioxins in waste management facilities such as landfill sites or incinerators, during the handling and disposal of contaminated waste products.
• Agriculture – In the agricultural industry and farming, particularly with those involved with livestock and the production of crops, workers may be exposed to dioxins due to the use of some contaminated fertilisers and herbicides.
• Construction – During the renovation or demolition of older buildings, some materials such as insulation or paint may contain dioxins. The workers involved may then be exposed to dioxins.
• Transportation – Workers that are involved with transporting hazardous waste or other dioxin-containing materials, could be exposed due to accidents or spillages.
• Firefighting – When responding to fires in buildings or vehicles that contain dioxin-containing materials, firefighters may be exposed.

Even if the industry you work in isn’t listed above, if you’ve suffered poisoning due to your employer’s negligence, we may be able to help you get compensation for your suffering.

Employers’ Responsibility For Mitigating The Risks Of Dioxin Exposure

As part of their duty of care to prevent accidents at work, employers should implement appropriate safety measures where there is a risk of exposure to dangerous chemicals. Therefore, employers must comply with the Health and Safety Executive’s ‘Control of Substances Hazardous to Health’ regulations. This may include providing workers with adequate personal protective equipment and clothing, such as gloves, goggles and respiratory protection. They must also implement recommended control measures to minimise exposure.

If you can prove that your employer did not comply with the HSE regulations and you were exposed to toxic dioxin levels as a result, you may have a valid dioxin poisoning compensation claim.

How Much Compensation For Dioxin Poisoning Could I Claim?

Compensation claims for dioxin poisoning are essentially made up of two types of damages:

• General Damages – These refer to the physical and psychological pain and suffering you have endured. Loss of amenity and the future prognosis is also taken into consideration.
• Special Damages – These damages refer to the financial effects of being injured and may include:
  • Any medical expenses you have incurred.
  • Any expenses due to travelling to appointments related to your injury. If you have had to have any vehicle adaptions due to your injury, this is also considered.
  • If you have had to pay for someone to take care of you, you can claim back any expenses for this.
  • Loss of income. This includes any missed benefits, bonuses or promotions.

Our compensation calculator below can be used to see what payout amounts are suggested for general damages. However, any figures displayed should only be used as simply a guide as compensation for special damages are not included.

If you have any queries as to what can be included in your dioxin poisoning claim, speak with one of our personal injury solicitors for further advice. Seeking legal help as soon as possible will also give you more time to gather any relevant evidence.

What Evidence Can Support A Dioxin Poisoning Claim?

For a compensation claim to be successful, you need to be able to show that the defendant is to blame for dioxin poisoning. To be able to do this, you need to gather evidence that backs up your version of events. Evidence may consist of:

• Medical report. You should seek medical assistance as soon as you start showing symptoms of dioxin poisoning. Not only will you then hopefully be able to start treatment, but also your diagnosis will be kept on your medical record. Your solicitor can ask for a copy to be used as evidence.
• Photos of your injury. Any visible symptoms such as skin rashes/discolouration should be photographed to be used as a visual account of the pain and suffering endured.
• Witnesses statements. Gather contact details of any witnesses of how you were exposed to dioxins.
• Photos/Videos. Photos/video/CCTV footage of how, where or why you became exposed to dioxins if possible.
• Financial records. Records of any financial losses or expenses incurred such as receipts, bank statements and wage slips.

You should aim to start collecting evidence as early as possible to give you ample time to gather enough to be able to put a strong case together. Seeking legal help as soon as you can will be beneficial as your solicitor will be able to advise on suitable evidence, and help you to gather it.

Time Limits For Claiming Compensation

In the UK, personal injury claims must be filed within three years of either the date of the accident or incident or the date of diagnosis of injury or illness. In the case of dioxin poisoning, the time limit would likely begin from the point the poisoning was diagnosed by a medical professional.

However, it’s best to double-check how long you might have left in which to make a claim by contacting our personal injury solicitors today.

Starting The Dioxin Poisoning Claims Process

One thing you need not worry about is how you are going to fund your dioxin poisoning claim. Our personal injury solicitors can take a look at your potential claim for you during a free consultation to determine whether or not you have a viable case.

If they believe your claim to be viable, they may offer to take on your case for you on a No Win No Fee basis. With our No Win No Fee agreement, there aren’t any upfront or out-of-pocket expenses, and you’ll only pay a fee if the claim is won.

To find out more about the process of making a dioxin poisoning compensation claim, give us a call on 0800 6524 881 today for expert advice, or use the live chat to speak with an advisor right away.