Asbestos Exposure Lawyers
From the 1930s to the 1970s, asbestos was used in a myriad of industrial and commercial products. Asbestos is used in insulation, fireproofing, and cements. It is also used in auto brakes.
Workers who handled or worked near these materials are at a higher chance of developing serious lung ailments. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are usually not diagnosed until several years after exposure.
Know Where to Find Asbestos
Up until recently, asbestos was a component in hundreds of building materials. Although asbestos is no longer a common material used in construction, it can still be present in a variety of American buildings. Asbestos, when in good condition and not disturbed is not dangerous. It is essential that people know where asbestos is so they don't disturb or touch it.
Asbestos is most commonly found in floors and walls around wood-burning stoves and painted surfaces. Older homes usually contain vermiculite insulation which contains asbestos, and can also contain asbestos plaster sprayed on or poured-on or adhesives. Other asbestos-containing materials include paper, millboard and cement sheets which were used in ceiling and wall drywall.
Disturbing these types of materials releases deadly asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers could be inhaled and lead to serious health issues, including mesothelioma. It's a good idea to engage an skilled asbestos removal or abatement contractor to do any work that involves the removal of these materials.
It is crucial for homeowners to be aware of the distinction between friable asbestos and non-friable asbestos. Friable asbestos can trigger illnesses more quickly because it releases harmful asbestos particles in the air. Non-friable, however, is less dangerous as it remains intact and only releases tiny fibers when it is damaged or broken.
Asbestos is often difficult to find and, even if it's present, it's difficult to tell if it's in good shape. This is why it's recommended that you leave any suspected asbestos alone unless you're planning some serious renovation or remodeling of your home.
You should contact a mesothelioma lawyer immediately when you suspect asbestos is present in your home. They will be able to provide you with the steps to take and determine if you are eligible for compensation from an asbestos trust fund. Asbestos lawyers can assist you file a lawsuit against companies who have exposed their employees to asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma.
Make sure you do not disturb asbestos
From the 1930s to the 1970s, asbestos was commonly placed in a wide range of construction and industrial products including pipe insulation and fireproofing materials, plasters and cements, automotive brakes and more. In reality, nearly everyone who worked in a shipyard or building during this time likely was in contact with asbestos. People who did could be exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos for years. Some employees even brought home asbestos fibers on their clothes and exposed their families to dangers such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Fortunately that the United States has passed legislation which bans the use of asbestos. Asbestos is no longer a serious danger. The fibers are still present in older homes and buildings. Many of these buildings are scheduled for renovation or demolition work, however. The people involved in these projects are exposed to a high level of risk.
As asbestos is invisibly, workers may not be aware of their exposure until they develop serious health issues. These symptoms typically take decades to manifest themselves, which is why it's so crucial for those working with any type of construction project to be aware of the exposure to asbestos.
Undamaged asbestos products, for instance undamaged floor or ceiling tiles, laboratory cabinet tops and siding shingles, won't release asbestos fibers unless altered in any way. If the materials are cut or drilled, sawed, or manipulated in any way, they could be released into the air, contaminating the surrounding area.
Water damage, continuous vibration or aging can also make asbestos-containing products more fragile and cause them to break down and release asbestos fibers into the air. This is why those who are handling or renovating local asbestos lawyers a building must be cautious and seek advice from an environmental inspection specialist.
Military personnel are also at risk of asbestos exposure. Due to their frequent travel to foreign locations, they can easily encounter asbestos-containing structures destroyed by fire, bombs or demolished. Asbestos is also present in military vehicles and equipment as they service or repair them. In reality, veterans can be more than 30 times as likely to develop pleural mesothelioma as compared to those who do not serve in the military.
Report Your Suspicion to Your Employer
It is your responsibility, if suspect or know that asbestos is present at your workplace to inform your employer as quickly as possible. If your employer was aware of the dangers associated with asbestos but failed to inform you, you could be eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit against them for negligent false representation. Your lawyer will have to demonstrate that your employer knew asbestos was dangerous, and that they were negligent in not disclosing the dangers of asbestos.
Most workplaces are required to comply with specific safety standards and regulations when it comes to asbestos. This includes the laws and guidelines implemented by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Mine Safety and Health Administration as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Certain occupations are thought to be at a higher risk of exposure to asbestos than others. Miners, asbestos abatement, maintenance and custodial employees, and insulation workers are all at risk. In addition, people who work in shipyards and at asbestos-contaminated construction sites also face a higher risk of exposure.
Asbestos exposure can cause a variety of illnesses, including mesothelioma. This cancer is most commonly found in the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) but it can also affect the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma) as well as other organs as well. It can also affect the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).
If an employee is exposed, they should be provided with protective equipment and safe working conditions and training. This should help prevent accidental exposure to asbestos. Employers are also required to keep track of worker exposure and medical examinations for at least 30 years.
If you're diagnosed with a disease due to asbestos exposure it is important to consult an experienced attorney right away. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist you recover compensation from companies responsible for your exposure to asbestos. This may include filing claims against established bankruptcy trusts, as well as pursuing personal injury claims against the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products, owners of buildings and others. In certain cases, relatives of those who died from mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related illnesses are entitled to the wrongful death benefit.
Contact an attorney
If you've recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer or asbestosis, a skilled lawyer is your best resource for obtaining compensation to pay for medical treatments and other expenses. You may be able bring an asbestos lawsuit against the companies that exposed you or a loved ones to this harmful substance.
Many people suffering from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases didn't realize they were exposed to asbestos until a few years later. This can make it very difficult to obtain the justice you deserve. Your attorney can determine if you are eligible to file a lawsuit and the amount of damages you should be seeking.
Asbestos lawyers specialize in holding large corporations to account for their recklessness in harming people. They also know that the mesothelioma patients they represent often confront legal challenges of a complex nature like coordination between multiple doctors and insurance companies.
Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer is caused by asbestos fibers. The symptoms can take years to show up, and a lot of victims have reached the end of their lives before they are diagnosed. Asbestos manufacturers knew asbestos was dangerous and hid this information for decades which put millions of Americans at risk.
The most common type of asbestos exposure occurs in the workplace. During the 1930s-1970s, asbestos was used in many industrial and commercial products, including pipe insulation, fireproofing material, cements, plasters and brakes for cars. Workers who handled these products or touched them were exposed to asbestos fibers. Even family members could be affected if workers brought asbestos dust home on their clothing.
Construction workers are at the highest the risk of exposure to asbestos. They are frequently involved in demolitions, renovations and re-building older structures that contain asbestos. A lot of construction workers have to remove old insulation from buildings which could expose them to asbestos. Certain construction companies have also didn't take proper safety precautions when working on hazardous sites such as the World Trade Center after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Asbestos cases are not handled by personal injury lawyers, who usually concentrate on cases that involve motor vehicle accidents as well as other general injuries. A mesothelioma company will have a team consisting of attorneys and support staff who are only involved in asbestos-related cases. They will have a deep knowledge of asbestos's history and locations, as well as companies that employed asbestos. They can assist victims determine if they've been exposed to asbestos at work or other locations. They can also assist in finding the right records and file an asbestos lawsuit against a company that isn't there and determine if the company has trust funds available to pay victims.