Benzene Lawsuit & Claims | Benzene Exposure Lawyers

For over a century, American workers have been exposed to benzene. For almost the same time, the companies they worked for knew about the dangers of cancer.

Since 1928, medicine has learned a lot about the connection of benzene to leukemias and lymphomas.

Last Updated: November 15, 2022

Fact-Checked and Legally Edited by: Attorney Aaron Dickey

TOPICS ON THIS PAGE:

What is Benzene?
Cancers Linked to Benzene
Benzene Exposure
Benzene Industries
Jobs with Benzene Exposure
Compensation for Benzene Victims
What is a Benzene Lawsuit
Verdicts and Settlements
FAQs

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Who Was Exposed To Benzene?

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Benzene Exposure Causes Leukemias and Lymphomas

What is Benzene?

Benzene is an organic hydrocarbon that occurs naturally in small amounts but is primarily produced and consumed by heavy industry. It is one of the top chemicals currently in production.

Benzene is a manufacturing building block used to make pharmaceutical, chemicals, and oil-based products. Benzene is also a by-product of gasoline and diesel production and is also contained in the fuel itself.

For over a century, American workers have been exposed to benzene. For almost the same time, the companies they worked for knew about the dangers of cancer. In fact, the first published case of benzene leukemia was in 1928. Since that time, medicine has learned a lot about the connection of benzene to leukemias and lymphomas.

What Cancers are Linked to Benzene?

Benzene has been linked to cancers of the blood and bone marrow. These cancers are most commonly called leukemia and lymphoma.

Benzene has been shown to cause cancer after being regularly exposed to it for as little as 3 years. The specific diseases that can be caused by benzene are:

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
Myelodysplasia, also known as Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL)
Multiple Myeloma (MM)

All of these conditions are serious and can be fatal if not diagnosed early.

Diagnoses of these diseases can come from something as simple as a blood test.

If you were around products that contained benzene regularly, you must let your doctor know about your exposure. It will help them recognize your symptoms and provide appropriate care.

How Was I Exposed to Benzene?

Benzene is used in the manufacturing of many products. Benzene can enter your system by breathing it as a gas or by absorbing it through your skin in its liquid form.

Benzene is aromatic, which means it evaporates quickly from a liquid into a gas and expands to fill space. It also is a little heavier than air, which means the gas collects in pockets in the lower levels of buildings or workspaces. Making them easier to breathe.

Without a positive pressure mask, workers around benzene can easily breathe it in, causing:

lightheadedness
headache
dizziness

It has a slightly sweet smell.

People that have worked in industries where benzene was used are at a higher risk of developing cancer later in life.

Benzene Industries

Benzene is one of the top 20 chemicals used for manufacturing in the United States. Many workers exposed to benzene come from the oil and gas industry. However, anyone that has worked making lubricants, dyes, plastics, rubber, pharmaceutical drugs, detergents, and pesticides is at a high risk of benzene exposure.

Common Jobs with Benzene Exposure

Refinery workers - Refining oil into gasoline can produce a lot of benzene. It is also present in the gas that is made. Any refinery worker will have been exposed to dangerous levels of benzene in their career.
Chemical workers - Benzene is used as a solvent in chemical production and refining. Chemical workers work with both pure benzene and benzene-containing products.
Pipefitters - Benzene is used to loosen the connections on piping systems. Pipefitters also work with equipment that creates benzene.
Boilermakers - Benzene is used as a solvent to maintain and repair boilers, pumps, valves, and piping. This exposure is hazardous for boilermakers.
Tanker Truck Driver (Fuel Transport) - All types of fuel contain benzene. This makes it dangerous for anyone that handles fuel regularly.
Tankerman (Seamen) - Because they handle and transport fuel, Tankermen are exposed to the benzene that is in the fuel. Also, ships and barges are not well ventilated.

What Type of Compensation is Available for Benzene Victims?

People who are injured by benzene can be entitled to significant financial compensation from several sources. Companies have allowed workers around benzene without proper ventilation or masks.

Your employer may be liable to you for the exposure under your state's workers' compensation law. You could also bring a claim for premises liability, product liability, or the wrongful death of a loved one. Your leukemia or lymphoma diagnosis could entitle you to compensation for:

Medical Expenses
Pain and Suffering
Lost Wages
Disability
Military Service-Related Disability

What is a Benzene Lawsuit?

A benzene lawsuit is when a law firm like ours files a claim for you and your family in court. This filing states your injury, how we believe you were exposed to benzene, and what companies we believe responsible.

Companies that used benzene in their products made money while knowing the harm it could cause their workers.

Filing a benzene lawsuit gives the court a way to hold the companies that have used benzene accountable for your cancer. The court can also award you punitive damages to punish these companies for their wrongdoing.

We're a Firm that Has the Benzene Knowledge

Dickey Law Firm has guided families like yours to significant financial settlements based on benzene injuries. We have the experience and industry knowledge to get you the recovery you deserve.

Benzene verdicts and settlements can have different outcomes based on your diagnosis and where your case is filed.

Listed below are examples of successful cases where clients received significant compensation.

$7.5 million verdict was awarded for a tanker truck driver diagnosed with leukemia related to transporting gasoline.
$6.6 million verdict was awarded to the family of a MobilOil refinery worker who died of leukemia from his work exposure to benzene.
$6.3 million settlement reached for an auto mechanic and painter to compensate for his myelodysplastic syndrome diagnosis (MDS).
$2,282,002 verdict for an aircraft painter at McDonnell Douglas diagnosed with acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AML).
An undisclosed settlement was given to a mechanic who worked at Shell gas stations in the 1960s & 1970s.

Past legal success is no guarantee of future outcomes. These results may give you a general idea of how we may be able to help you and your family. Dickey Law Firm shares these case histories to inform visitors about fact patterns, settlements, verdicts.

Frequently Asked Questions about Asbestos

Is Benzene Still legal?

Yes, Benzene is still legal as an ingredient and as a byproduct of other chemical processes. However, it is no longer legal to use it as a solvent in its pure form.

Benzene is much more regulated now than it used to be. Because of that, there is much less exposure to American workers today. The problem is that your cancer could be caused by exposure that occurred decades ago.

How Long Do I Have to File My Benzene Claim?

Your benzene claim is governed by your state's statute of limitations. Accurate information about this deadline requires guidance from an experienced attorney.

It's always better to file sooner rather than later.

This limits your risk of running out of time. There's no easy answer to this question, but we are more than happy to advise you based on your specific situation.

How Long Does Someone With Benzene Cancer Live?

The amount of time that someone has to live with benzene cancer depends on the type of cancer they were diagnosed with and how early it was detected.

The cancers that can come from benzene exposure are Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, and Multiple Myeloma.

For some of these diseases, there can be an absolute cure. For others, the 5-year prognosis is more challenging.

For all of these diagnoses, your medical outcome is improved with early detection.

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Benzene Lawsuit & Claims | Benzene Exposure Lawyers

Benzene Case Value Calculator

Find Out How Much Compensation You Can Get For Your Case

Who Was Exposed To Benzene?

Benzene Exposure Causes Leukemias and Lymphomas

What is Benzene?

What Cancers are Linked to Benzene?

$30 Billion Available for Mesothelioma Victims

How Was I Exposed to Benzene?

Benzene Industries

Common Jobs with Benzene Exposure

What Type of Compensation is Available for Benzene Victims?

What is a Benzene Lawsuit?

We're a Firm that Has the Benzene Knowledge

Frequently Asked Questions about Asbestos

Is Benzene Still legal?

How Long Do I Have to File My Benzene Claim?

How Long Does Someone With Benzene Cancer Live?

Benzene Case Value Calculator

Find Out how Much Compensation You Can Get For Your Case

Who Was Exposed To Benzene?

Compensation for People Diagnosed With Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Compensation for Family Members

Compensation for Veterans with Mesothelioma

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