If you or a family member have developed an illness after being exposed to harmful PFAS chemicals, Ylla|Gosney Attorneys at Law can help you earn support. Our PFAS Injury Lawyers go to work immediately to ensure all of your medical care is covered. We also demand full support for families who have lost loved ones to exposure. To learn more about your legal options, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
What Are PFAS?
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used chemicals in the U.S. and the World that pose a health risk when humans are exposed to them. The EPA confirms that scientific studies have shown that exposure to some PFAS in the environment may be linked to harmful health effects in humans and animals.
PFAS contamination is found or is believed to have been found in many different products and applications including:
- Protein bars
- Cosmetics
- Non-stick cookware
- Scotchgard products
- Baby wipes
- Firefighting foam
- Drinking water
- Fish caught in contaminated water
- Waste from military bases
- Seepage from landfills
PFAS break down very slowly in the body and in the environment and are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.” People may have been exposed to these harmful substances since the middle of the 20th century. Many products on U.S. store shelves over the years have tested for PFAS. Even the packaging of some products contains forever chemicals.
People may have been exposed for years and developed illnesses, including cancer. Victims can file lawsuits against the makers of products with PFAS and the National and local governments that allowed contamination to seep into the ground and water. They can demand help with medical bills and support for the suffering these chemicals have caused.
Families who have lost a loved one to what may have been an illness caused by ingesting PFAS can also file wrongful death claims and seek support.
An Oklahoma PFAS Injury Lawyer at Ylla|Gosney can make sure you and your family receive justice and are not financially punished for someone else’s mistake.
Have PFAS Been Found in Oklahoma?
Yes. In Oklahoma, PFAS have shown up in drinking water. In 2023, 2News Oklahoma reported that Wagoner County’s water system had tested positive for contamination. The EPA set aside $9 billion to help communities in Oklahoma and across the nation clean up PFAS water contamination.
The Oklahoman reported that PFAS were discovered at levels that legally must be reported in water systems around Oklahoma City. The EPA says that 70 million Americans are drinking water at similar levels or higher.
Environmental Working Group (EWG) also details how PFAS have been detected around Oklahoma’s military bases. The Department of Defense confirms positive tests at the Midwest City Readiness Center, near Oklahoma City, and Camp Gruber, near Muskogee.
The U.S. Army confirms that lower levels were discovered in Fort Sill drinking water near Lawton.
Illnesses Linked to PFAS
The research into the damage ingestion of these chemicals causes to the human body is ongoing.
Investigators have linked PFAS exposure (even low-level exposure) to these and other illnesses:
- Cancers
- Liver damage
- Heart damage
- Kidney disease
- Thyroid disease
- Reproductive harm
- Immune system damage
- Developmental damage in children
Should I Contact a Lawyer If My Family Has Been Harmed by PFAS?
You should. Knowing if you have a case or not may be the biggest question on your mind as you or a loved one struggle with a difficult illness. Your lawyer can help you determine if you should hold a manufacturer or a government agency liable for your suffering.
Ylla|Gosney offers a free consultation for victims and their families in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Lawton, and across the state. There’s no risk in looking into your case and finding out what’s possible before your opportunity closes.
If you do have a strong case against those who caused you harm, you’ll need legal protection when going up against corporate and government lawyers. They’ll be paid to try anything possible to pin the blame for your illness on some other cause or to downplay the illness you have to get away with offering you less in support. Your lawyer will bring the evidence necessary to hold guilty manufacturers and negligent U.S. government departments accountable.
Your lawyer will be gathering medical records, and service and work records from decades back if necessary. Ylla|Gosney attorneys can also utilize medical experts and testimony from doctors to back your case and earn a case victory for you and your family. We want to handle the frustrating parts of litigating a negligent party while giving you time to focus on healing.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Join a Class-Action Lawsuit Against a PFAS Maker?
No. But you can lose your chance at compensation or receive less than you should when you trust your case to government agencies and judges.
Some alleged contamination has spawned class action lawsuits across the nation. They’ve been directed at large companies like 3M and Firefighting foam makers. Victims in Oklahoma can join some of these lawsuits without the help of a lawyer, but it’s a good idea to discuss your case in a free consultation before moving forward.
In some cases, not every victim will receive the same level of support, and it’s often important to have your own Oklahoma class action lawyer representing you in a class action case. Your Ylla|Gosney attorney makes sure your story is heard and that you receive the full benefits you and your family require to fully recover.
What Kind of Things Can Earn Compensation for PFAS Victims?
Ylla|Gosney helps you catalog each and every physical, emotional, and financial damage caused by exposure to harmful substances.
These and other factors would all have to be considered when determining the size of a PFAS injury settlement check or judgment:
- Reimbursement for all medical bills
- Support for the long-term damaging effects and any permanent physical disabilities suffered
- Support for families in a wrongful death claim if exposure claimed the life of a loved one
- Support for the pain victims have endured
- Support for the emotional trauma victims have been put through
- Loss of enjoyment of life when patients can’t participate in hobbies and family activities due to injury
- Travel costs for treatment of symptoms
- Loss of income due to patients missing time at work
- Wrongful death benefits
Families are encouraged to file a wrongful death claim if a loved one was lost to PFAS exposure. An Oklahoma wrongful death lawyer would demand support to help close relatives pay burial costs and cover remaining medical bills. Those left behind should also be able to count on support in the future when they will be without the guidance, love, and financial support the deceased can no longer provide.
Contact an Oklahoma PFAS Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one got sick after exposure to a product, food, or drinking water that contained PFAS, you should speak with a real lawyer at Ylla|Gosney Attorneys at Law. We offer a free case review to all victims in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and across Oklahoma. It’s a no-obligation, confidential way to discover what a manufacturer or a government agency might have to pay you and your family. Reach out to us today to schedule a free meeting to learn more about your options.
