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Benzene Injury Law

Who We Serve

Hughes Law Offices serves individuals diagnosed with lymphatic cancers like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as a result of benzene exposures. Benzene is a known cause of leukemia and we bring claims against the manufacturers, landowners and employers responsible for negligently exposing individuals to benzene. People from all walks of life suffer benzene exposures.

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    • Laboratory workers, printers, railroad workers, painters and firefighters have all likely endured benzene exposures.  
    • Hobbyists using paint thinners, degreasers or glues around the house can suffer benzene exposures.  
    • Farmers applying pesticides and herbicides are at great risk for benzene exposures.  

    The fact is, benzene is all around us. Benzene is a natural part of crude oil and can be found in gasoline and diesel fuel. Even today, benzene ranks in the top 20 chemicals for production volume. It is used to make plastics, nylon, resins and other synthetic products. Benzene is also used in the production of pesticides, rubbers, drugs, dyes, inks, detergents, herbicides and lubricants. Workers involved in the manufacture of those products and all of those who work downstream with the products can be at risk.

    Here is a short list of some of the name brand products that at one point contained benzene:

    • Gumout – various (e.g. tune up sprays, fuel injector cleaners, tank carb cleaner etc.)
    • Liquid Wrench
    • Naptha
    • Champion – various (e.g. brake cleaner, carb cleaner, galv off, super lubricant, flying insect killer, stainless steel cleaner, etc.)
    • Parks – various (e.g. lacquer thinner, brush cleaner, liquid strip, furniture refinisher, adhesive remover, etc.)
    • Sunoco Household Oil
    • Solvasol
    • Ortho Weed-B-Gone
    • Shell Rubber Solvent
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    Generally, what types of products contained benzene?  Some of these have over the years:

    • Mineral Spirits
    • Hydraulic Fluids
    • Machining Oils
    • Rubber Cement
    • Varnish Makers
    • Vinyl Thinner
    • Charcoal Lighter Fluid
    • Asphalt
    • Kerosene
    • Liquid Polish
    • Solvents
    • Paints
    • Paint Thinners
    • Leather Black
    • Leather Polish
    • Spray Lubricants
    • Coke Ovens

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    Did you ever work with Toluene?  Here are some of the toluene products that contained benzene:

    • Xylene
    • Hexane
    • Ethylbenzene
    • Butadiene
    • Isoprene
    • Piperylene
    • Toluene
    • Dichloropentadiene
    • Monochlorobenzene
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    Via its thorough intake process, Hughes Law Offices investigates benzene exposure avenues and determines which exposures contributed to your leukemia diagnosis. Benzene cases are very complex. Exposures often involve many different products that were utilized over decades in various jurisdictions. It is instrumental that the initial interviews be conducted by experienced attorneys who know the difference between a valid case and one that cannot be proven.

    Refinery workers, boatswains, tanker truck drivers, aircraft painters, and steelworkers have all recovered sizable verdicts from benzene defendants.   Defendants include the the owners of property where benzene exposures occurred and the manufacturers of the benzene-containing products that caused the blood and bone marrow illness at hand. In some cases, past employers are named defendants.  Companies like DuPont, BP, U.S. Steel, Union Pacific Railroad, Kinder Morgan and Chevron have all been on the losing end of benzene cases.

    There will be no attorney fee unless Hughes Law Offices recovers money on your behalf.

    Hughes Law Offices will cover the expenses associated with proving up your case, including court filings, expert fees, obtaining medical records and deposition costs. Hughes Law Offices will be reimbursed for those amounts only if money is recovered on your behalf. Case consultations are always free and we are happy to talk over the phone, in our office or we can even have a lawyer travel to you.

    You won’t find a long list of Practice Areas for Hughes Law Offices. We are a boutique law firm focused on serving individuals who have been diagnosed with diseases from exposures to toxins like benzene.

    To learn if you have a case, call 1-800-BENZENE now and speak with a lawyer for free.

    Questions? We Can Help! Contact Us Today!

    Call Us Now 1 (800) 236-9363 Schedule a Consultation

    Client Testimonials

    Find Out More From Our Clients

    53 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago IL 60604 US
    (312) 877-5588
    5/5 based on 4 reviews

    Wrongful Death Case

    My family hired attorney Hughes for the wrongful death of my brother. Mr. Hughes worked very hard on our case, the results were excellent. I would recommend him to anyone needing an attorney, he is a very fair and kind person.

    Unique Expertise

    Andrew took over my asthma claim with the railroad after a different law firm failed to meet expectations. Andrew’s unique expertise in the field of diesel related injury gave him the ability to build my case exceptionally well. When Andrew presented...

    Professional and Trustworthy

    From my very first contact with Andrew we have found him to be compassionate, hard working and trust worthy. In the eight months we were associated with Andrew we feel he has also become a friend of ours...

    Worked Diligently

    For the past two years Andrew Hughes has worked diligently in helping me with my case against the Norfolk Southern R.R. During this time he has kept me thoroughly informed about my case his expertise led to me getting a generous settlement...

    Above and Beyond

    The attorneys at Hughes Law Offices go above and beyond and they care about the client. Tom Guillen was always responsive and professional. He was there from the first phone call until they settled my case. I am happy with the result and would recommend them to anyone who was exposed to benzene and later developed leukemia.

    Detailed Approach

    I was impressed by their detailed approach and their ability to do the necessary research to handle my case. Tom Guillen and the lawyers at Hughes Law Offices always answered our questions and helped us understand the process. I was also happy with the way Tom was right there by my side when I had to go in for a deposition. He made sure that my words did not get twisted by the defense lawyers. My wife and I are happy with what they did for us.

    Trustworthy

    Tom Guillen was there whenever I needed him. The lawyers at his firm are trustworthy and I would recommend them to others. It was clear to me that they had the necessary experience. I am happy with the results of my benzene lawsuit.

    Always Respectful

    Tom Guillen helped me through the litigation process. He was there to answer any question I had and was always respectful of my concerns. I will always appreciate how determined he was to help my family.

    Verdicts and Settlements

    Survey of Benzene

    Hughes Law Offices is providing case histories to inform visitors about actual case fact patterns and rulings.
    Unless specifically noted, the cases summarized herein were not handled by attorneys at Hughes Law Offices.     See All Verdicts

    Verdict

    $3.2M

    Helper/rigger/leadman on barges diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia via benzene exposure. Plaintiff exposed to benzene via solvents used to clean tools. Employer provided the solvents. Older versions of Liquid Wrench contained high mixtures of benzene.

    Verdict

    $7.5M

    Gasoline tanker truck driver diagnosed with blood cancer following years of benzene exposure at defendant’s premises. Benzene was component of the fuel that he was loading and hauling.

    Verdict

    $5.8M

    Plaintiff had a 39-year career with Sabine Towing. Throughout his career, plaintiff held various positions, including seaman, quartermaster, boatswain, third mate, second mate, chief mate and master..

    Verdict

    $8.0M

    Able-bodied seaman diagnosed with kidney cancer as a result of exposure to benzene and other hydrocarbons while loading and discharging crude oil and other products, cleaning tanks and measuring tank levels.

    Verdict

    $3.5M

    In his 30s at the time, decedent was a contracted tanker truck driver who regularly transported toxic products. As a result, he was regularly exposed to chemicals containing benzene.

    Settlement

    $1.5M

    Plaintiff’s decedent had worked as a pump man aboard various tankers in the early 1970s and early 1980s where he was exposed to benzene. In 1994, about 15 years since his last exposure to benzene, the decedent was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

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