Asbestos Exposure Lawyers
Asbestos was used in a variety of industrial and commercial products from the 1930s to the 1970s. Asbestos was used in insulation, fireproofing, plaster and cements, auto brakes and more.
Workers who worked or handled near these materials face the chance of developing serious lung illnesses. Most asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma don't get diagnosed until several years after exposure.
Know Where to Find Asbestos
In the past, asbestos was used in hundreds of building products. Although asbestos is no longer a popular material used in construction however, it is present in a variety of American buildings. Asbestos isn't a danger if it's in good health and isn't disturbed. It's crucial that people know where asbestos is so they don't disturb or touch it.
Asbestos is typically found in floors and walls around wood-burning stoves and paints with textured surfaces. Older homes often contain vermiculite insulation, which is made up of asbestos and may also have sprayed-on or poured-on asbestos plaster or adhesives. Other asbestos-containing materials include paper, millboard, and cement sheets used in roof and wall drywall.
Asbestos fibers are released into the air when they are disturbed. The fibers are then inhaled, which can lead to serious health issues, including mesothelioma. Employing an asbestos removal or abatement contractor with a track record is recommended for any work involving these materials.
It is essential for homeowners to understand the distinction between friable asbestos and non-friable asbestos. Asbestos with friability is more likely to cause illness because it can easily release asbestos-related particles that are harmful into the air. Non-friable, on the other hand is less risky because it is unbroken and only releases small fibres when damaged or broken.
Asbestos isn't easy to identify and even if aware of its presence, it's tough to determine if it's in good shape. It is generally recommended to leave any asbestos alone, unless you plan to do major remodels or renovations to your home.
Contact a mesothelioma lawyer immediately when you suspect asbestos is present in your home. They can guide you on the steps you should take next and determine if you're eligible for compensation from an asbestos trust fund. Asbestos exposure lawyers can assist you in filing a lawsuit against companies that exposed their workers to mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses.
Be Certain Not to Disturb Asbestos
Asbestos was used in various industrial and construction products from the 1930s to the 1970s. This included insulation for pipes, fireproofing material such as cements and plasters and also brakes for cars. In reality, almost everyone working in a construction site or shipyard during this time period probably handled or touched asbestos at some point. People who handled or touched asbestos could be exposed to dangerous levels for a long time. Some employees carried asbestos fibers home with them on their clothing and exposed their family members to lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Fortunately, the United States has passed legislation that bans many uses of asbestos. Asbestos is no longer a significant threat. The fibers are still found in older buildings and homes. Many of these structures are slated for demolition or renovation, however. This puts those involved in these projects at an increased risk of being exposed.
As asbestos is invisible and invisible to the naked eye, workers may not be aware of their exposure to it until they begin to experience serious health problems. These symptoms can take a long time to manifest themselves, which is why it's so important for people involved in any construction project to be mindful of their exposure to asbestos.
The asbestos that is unaffected, such as unaltered ceiling tiles or floor tiles and siding shingles won't release asbestos fibres unless they've been handled. If they are cut or sawed, drilled or disturbed, they can potentially become airborne and contaminate the surrounding area.
Water damage, continuous vibration, or aging may make these asbestos-containing materials more fragile and cause them to disintegrate and release fibers into the atmosphere. This is why people who are renovating or handling a building should be aware and seek advice from an environmental inspection specialist.
Military personnel are also at risk of exposure to asbestos. Due to their frequent travels around the world, they may encounter asbestos-containing buildings that have been bombed, burnt or otherwise destroyed. Asbestos can also be present in military vehicles and equipment when they service or repair them. They are 30 times more likely to develop pleural msothelioma than those who did not have a military background.
Report Your Suspicion to Your Employer
If you know or suspect that your workplace has asbestos, it is your responsibility to notify your employer immediately. If your employer was aware of the dangers posed by asbestos and failed to inform you, you could be eligible to bring an asbestos lawsuit against them for negligent misrepresentation. However your lawyer will have to prove a number of aspects of this claim which include that your employer was aware that asbestos was harmful and was negligent in not disclosing this information.
Most workplaces are required to follow specific safety standards and regulations in relation to asbestos. There are policies and laws that are set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA), Mine Safety and Health Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Many occupations are known to be more at risk of exposure to asbestos than others. These include asbestos abatement workers, maintenance and custodial workers and insulation workers. 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 number of diseases that include mesothelioma. This cancer is most commonly found in the lung (pleural mesothelioma) but it can also affect the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma) as well as other organs as well. It can also affect your heart (pericardial pericardioma).
If an employee is exposed to asbestos, he or she must be provided with safety equipment and also safe working conditions and education. This will help prevent any accidental exposure to the toxic substance. Employers are also required to asbestos lawsuit lawyers keep records of employee exposure and medical examinations for a minimum of 30 year.
If you're diagnosed with a condition related to asbestos exposure, it is crucial to speak with an experienced attorney right away. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you to recover compensation from the businesses responsible for your exposure. This could include filing claims with bankruptcy trusts, as well as seeking injury claims against the manufacturers of asbestos or products that contain asbestos as well as building owners and many more. In some cases family members of those who have died from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses may be entitled to compensation for the loss of a loved one.
Contact an Attorney
If you've been recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis, a skilled lawyer is the best source to get compensation for medical treatments and other expenses. You may be able to file an asbestos lawsuit against companies who exposed you or someone you love to the harmful substance.
Many people who suffer from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases did not know they were exposed to asbestos until years after exposure. This makes it extremely difficult to obtain the amount of compensation you are entitled to. An attorney can assist you determine if you are legally qualified to bring a lawsuit and the amount of damages you should be seeking.
Asbestos lawyers specialize in holding large corporations accountable for negligently harming people. They also know that the mesothelioma patients they represent often have to deal with complicated legal issues like coordination between several doctors and insurance companies.
Mesothelioma is a fatal disease caused by exposure to dangerous asbestos fibers. It can take decades before symptoms begin to manifest, and many victims are in the final stages of life by the time they are diagnosed. Asbestos manufacturers knew asbestos was harmful, but they hid this information for a long time and put millions of Americans at risk.
The most frequent type of asbestos exposure is at work. Asbestos was utilized in a myriad of commercial and industrial items during the 1930s to the 1970s, such as insulation for pipes, fireproofing plasters and cements and car brakes. People who touched or handled these products were exposed fibers, and even family members were sometimes affected by workers bringing home asbestos dust on their clothing.
Construction workers are most at risk of asbestos exposure. They are frequently involved in demolitions, renovations and the re-building of older structures that have asbestos. Construction workers are often responsible for the removal of old insulation from buildings, which could create an additional exposure to asbestos. A few construction companies didn't take proper safety measures while working on hazardous sites such as the World Trade Center after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Personal injury lawyers don't deal with asbestos cases. They usually focus on motor vehicle accidents or other general injuries. A mesothelioma law firm will have a team of lawyers and support staff that handle only asbestos-related cases. They will have a deep knowledge of asbestos' location and history and also the companies that have used asbestos. They can assist victims determine whether they were exposed to asbestos at work or in other locations. They can also help locate the correct documents, make an asbestos lawsuit against a company that isn't there, and determine if that company has trust funds in place to pay victims.