5 Common Questions Answered About Environmental Law

Posted on: 19 January 2015

When it comes to environmental law, you may have heard about certain violations, such as littering on the highway. However, environmental law is much more extensive than this. In fact, you may have to deal with an environmental law attorney in the case that you have a neighbor, company, or more that is violating the environmental laws in your state that is causing harm to yourself and the environment in which you live. Here are some common questions one might have about how environmental law works:

  1. What is Environmental Law? Environmental law is what regulates the cleanup of hazardous waste and the consequences of people who violate these laws. Those who dispose of waste outside of trash cans, companies that release harmful chemicals into the air, and more would all fall under those who must receive consequences for these actions under the environmental law of the state in which they are located.
  2. Who Can Bring a Case to Court? Anyone who has a problem with a person or company that is damaging the environment in which they live can bring a case to court. For example, as a homeowner, you could hire an environmental attorney to sue a company releasing harmful chemicals in the air that affects the air in around your own home.
  3. What are the Punishments? Punishments for violating environmental law ranges depending on the severity of the case. For example, one could be fined, be confined to imprisonment, or under probation. 
  4. Do You Need to Hire an Environmental Law Attorney? When it comes to suing someone for violating environmental law, you may believe that you can fight the case yourself. However, by hiring an environmental attorney, you can be sure that you receive all the right information about the laws in your specific region. Also, by hiring an attorney, you have a higher chance of receiving the proper amount of compensation.
  5. What Kind of Compensation can You Receive? In terms of receiving compensation for the claim that you have filed under environmental law, you can receive compensation for cleanup of your property, for example.

By knowing the answers to some of these questions, you can be sure that you better understand the facts surrounding environmental law, which helps you to also better understand your own rights to living in a clean and comfortable environment. For more information, contact Moore Smith Buxton & Turcke-Chartered or a similar firm.

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