Asbestos Exposure Lawyers
From the 1930s to the 1970s, asbestos was used in a myriad of industrial and commercial products. Asbestos was put into insulation, fireproofing, plaster and cements as well as auto brakes, among others.
People who work with or near these substances are at greater risk of developing serious lung illnesses. Usually, asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma don't get diagnosed until many years after exposure.
Know Where Asbestos Is Located
Until recently asbestos was used in a variety of building products. Although it's no longer used in construction materials, it is still present in many homes across the United States. Asbestos, when in good state and not disturbed, is not dangerous. This is the reason it's crucial for people to know where asbestos is located so they can avoid touching or damaging it.
Asbestos is commonly found in flooring, walls surrounding wood-burning stoves as well as painted surfaces. Older homes often contain vermiculite insulation, which is made up of asbestos and may also have asbestos plaster that has been poured on or sprayed or adhesives. Other asbestos-containing products include paper millboard, and cement sheets used in roof and wall drywall.
Asbestos fibers are released into the air when these materials are disturbed. These fibers could be inhaled and cause serious health issues, such as mesothelioma. It's a good idea to engage an expert asbestos removal contractor to take on any job that involves disturbing the asbestos-containing materials.
It is crucial that homeowners understand the difference between non-friable and friable asbestos. Friable asbestos can trigger illnesses more quickly because it can release harmful asbestos particles into the air. Non-friable asbestos on one however, is not as much of a threat as it remains in place and only releases tiny fibres once it's broken or damaged.
Asbestos isn't easy to identify and even if you're aware of its presence, it's tough to know if it's in good shape. This is why it's generally advised to keep any asbestos that you suspect in place unless you're planning to do any major renovation or remodeling of your home.
Contact mesothelioma lawyers immediately when you suspect asbestos is present in your home. They can guide you on the steps to take next and determine if you are eligible for compensation from an asbestos trust fund. Asbestos lawyers can assist you bring a suit against companies who have exposed their workers to asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.
Be careful not to disturb asbestos
Asbestos was used in various construction and industrial products from the 1930s to the 1970s. These included insulation for pipes, fireproofing material such as cements and plasters as well as brakes for automobiles. In reality, nearly everyone who worked in a shipyard, building or construction during this time probably was in contact with asbestos. Anyone who did may be exposed to harmful levels of asbestos for decades. Some employees even brought home asbestos fibers on their clothing which exposed their families to dangers like lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Fortunately the United States passed legislation to stop the use of asbestos in many ways and today, no longer asbestos poses as much of a threat. However, asbestos fibers remain in older buildings and homes. However, many of these structures will be being renovated or demolished. The people involved in these projects at a high risk for exposure.
Because asbestos is invisible to the naked eye, people might not realize they've come into contact with it until they experience serious health issues. These symptoms can take a long time to manifest themselves and this is why it is important for those who are working on any construction project to be aware of the exposure to asbestos.
The asbestos that is unaffected, such as unaltered floor or ceiling tiles and siding shingles will not release asbestos fibres unless they have been handled. However, if they are cut or sawed, drilled, or tampered with, they could possibly become airborne and infect the surrounding area.
Damage to water, vibrations or aging could make asbestos-containing products fragile. They could break down and release the fibers into the air. This is the reason why those renovating or handling a building must be cautious and consult an expert in environmental inspection.
Military personnel are also at risk of exposure to asbestos. Due to their frequent travel to overseas locations, they are likely to encounter asbestos-containing structures destroyed by fire, bombs or demolished. Asbestos is also found in military vehicles and equipment as they service or repair them. In fact, these veterans are more than 30 times as likely to develop pleural cancer compared to those who do not have a military service.
Report Your Suspicion to Your Employer
It is your responsibility, if you suspect or know that asbestos is present in your workplace to inform your employer as soon as you can. You may be able file an asbestos lawsuit against your employer if they were aware of the dangers associated with asbestos, but did not warn you. However your lawyer will need to prove a variety of aspects of this claim such as that your employer was aware that asbestos was dangerous and was negligent in not disclosing this information.
The majority of workplaces must follow specific safety standards and regulations in relation to asbestos. This includes laws and policies implemented by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Mine Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
There are many occupations that have a higher exposure risk to asbestos. Miners, asbestos abatement, maintenance and custodial workers, 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 has been linked to various diseases which include mesothelioma. The majority of the time, this cancer is found in the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) but can affect the stomach (peritoneal mesothelioma) and other organs, as well. It can also affect the heart (pericardial pericardioma).
If an employee is exposed, they should be provided with safety equipment as well as safe working conditions and training. This should help prevent accidental exposure to asbestos. Employers are also required to keep records of worker exposure and medical examinations for at least 30 year.
Consult an attorney as soon as you can if you've been diagnosed with a disease caused by asbestos exposure. A mesothelioma attorney can help you obtain compensation from the companies that are responsible for your exposure to asbestos. This may involve filing claims with bankruptcy trusts as well as seeking injury claims against the manufacturers of asbestos or products that contain asbestos or asbestos-containing products, building owners, and more. In certain cases, relatives of those who died from mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases are entitled to wrongful death benefit.
Contact an attorney
If you've been recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis, a seasoned lawyer is your best resource to get compensation for medical treatment and other expenses. Memphis asbestos lawsuit may be able to file an asbestos lawsuit against the companies who exposed you or someone you love to this dangerous substance.
Many people who have mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases, didn't know they had been exposed to asbestos until many years later. This can make it very difficult to receive the compensation you are entitled to. Your attorney can determine if you are eligible to file a lawsuit and the amount of damages you need to seek.
Asbestos lawyers are experts in bringing large corporations to account for their recklessness in harming people. They also know that the mesothelioma patients they represent often struggle with complex legal issues like coordination between multiple doctors and insurance companies.
Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer is caused by asbestos fibers. The symptoms can take decades to manifest, and many sufferers are at the end of their lives before they are diagnosed. Asbestos manufacturers knew asbestos was dangerous and hid the truth for years and put millions of Americans at risk.
The most frequent form of asbestos exposure is in the workplace. During the 1930s-1970s asbestos was found in many industrial and commercial products, including pipe insulation, fireproofing material, plasters, cements, and car brakes. Workers who handled these products or touched them were exposed to asbestos fibers. Even family members could be affected by asbestos if workers brought asbestos dust home on their clothing.
Construction workers are most at the risk of exposure to asbestos. They frequently work on construction, renovations, demolitions and reconstruction of older structures that have asbestos-containing products. A lot of construction workers are responsible for removing old insulation from buildings, which can result in an additional exposure to asbestos. A few construction companies failed to take the proper safety precautions when 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 typically focus on motor vehicle accidents or other general injuries. A mesothelioma law firm will comprise a team of attorneys and support staff that handle only asbestos-related cases. They will have extensive knowledge of asbestos's history locations, the places, companies that used asbestos and more, and will help victims determine if they were exposed to asbestos while at work or in other places. 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 compensate victims.