Tag: asbestos

If you have had or currently have lung problems that you believe are attributed due to exposure to asbestos you should contact an asbestos lawyer to see if there is any legal action you can take to reimburse you for your health issues.  Asbestos lawyers and asbestos in general is sometimes brushed off as money hungry people looking for a quick buck.  The truth is however is that asbestos is a very serious health risk.  Studies have shown than even only 1 to 5 years of exposure put you at a 17% risk of lung disease.  The lung disease most often affiliated with asbestos is called mesothelioma which is unfortunately a very aggressive cancer than is general fatal.

Often asbestos litigation is successful for the person exposed to asbestos due to the asbestos company hid facts about asbestos and just how deadly it is.  W.R. Grace was an asbestos company in particular that withheld an internal study that showed the horrifying truth behind asbestos.  Their study showed that people with 21 to 25 years of experience with the company had a 92% chance of having lung disease.  It’s findings like these that give asbestos lawyers the information they need to help win cases to help repay people for their losses.

It’s been said that asbestos litigation is the largest mass tort in US history valued at over $250 billion dollars with over 600,000 claimants.  Due to this single field being so large there are many specialized asbestos lawyers who know asbestos law inside and out and are able to put together a very firm case.  Unfortunately the number of asbestos related disease is expected to rise in the next decade even though the risks of asbestos has been well know in the past few decades and it’s use has been severely limited.

Depending on your exposure to asbestos, you may be eligible to file a legal claim against an asbestos manufacturer.   There are generally two ways to be exposed to dangerous asbestos levels: in your home and in your work.  If you have worked with asbestos, an asbestos claim could potentially be quite successful. Asbestos claim cases represent the largest single issue in litigation today.  

People have known for centuries that overexposure to asbestos causes disease.  Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that has been used for  hundreds of years for its fire-resistant properties.  However, given the universal and historic awareness of the health hazards posed by asbestos, any individual suffering from asbestos-related problems like mesothelioma probably has a good case against an asbestos manufacturer.  In some states, there may be a statue of limitations after which it’s not possible to file suit against an asbestos manufacturer, so it’s best to investigate your asbestos claim options soon after finding out a mesothelioma diagnosis.

If  you have worked with asbestos, or if there’s asbestos in your home, you may be able to make claims against your employer and/or the asbestos manufacturer, depending on your situation.

If you have asbestos in your home, you may not be aware of it, as asbestos can take many forms. But asbestos was used in siding, insulation, and other building materials. Finding pictures of asbestos may help you determine if a material is asbestos or not; but sometimes perfectly harmless building materials can also look like asbestos.  Have a professional test it to confirm the material’s presence before filing an asbestos claim, and remember: asbestos removal is hazardous and should be left to professionals who will seal off and thoroughly clean the affected area.  Do not increase your exposure by attempting to remove it yourself.

Asbestos is a building material and was used in all parts of manufacturing. Many materials, such as fiberglass insulation, were developed to replace asbestos, but companies that used asbestos ignored the safer alternatives because of their cost. Asbestos is similar to tobacco in that it was a known carcinogen and corporate executives ignored the danger in order to fatten their wallets. Asbestos is much more dangerous than cigarette smoke and the victims were largely exploited workers who were unaware of the serious health risks they faced everyday.  The first asbestos law suit was filed in 1929 and the first mesothelioma-related asbestos law suit was filed in the United States in 1966. Although this case was lost, another asbestos law suit was filed immediately for a co-worker of the first plaintiff and the plaintiff was awarded $80,000 for his victory. 

In 1973, The Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of spray-on asbestos insulation as an air pollutant hazard but it wasn’t until 1979 that all uses of asbestos were abandoned and the materials were banned altogether.  In 1978, an asbestos plant manager divulged that the policy in his company was not to discuss chest findings or other medical results suggesting a relationship between asbestos and mesothelioma.  Because of this, a number of documents emerged clearly demonstrating fraud and conspiracy showing that as early as the 1930s, companies had made direct efforts to hide the dangers of asbestos from their workers.

Even as late as 1999, courts were finding that companies has disregarded the effects their use of asbestos were having on their workers and kept its’ use a secret until discovered by the federal courts.  Most of the asbestos companies have since gone bankrupt and the federal government has set aside funds for any victims and their families who have yet to file an asbestos law suit claim monetary compensation for their exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is a direct result from being exposed to asbestos.  If you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, you may need an asbestos attorney.  An asbestos attorney can help you with your case and help you seek and recover any damages that are owed to you.

Since Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos, if you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, then it is a fact that you were exposed to asbestos.  If this was on your job, your employer may be liable for allowing you to be exposed to this harmful toxin in the first place.  An asbestos attorney will look over your case and help you determine if any wrongdoing was performed.  If it is determined that your employer did not act according to law, your asbestos attorney will agree to take your case and represent you.

An asbestos attorney can help you if you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, however they can also assist those whose loved ones may have died as a result of having Mesothelioma.  If you’ve lost a loved one to Mesothelioma, then you may want to consider contacting an asbestos attorney as well.  An attorney can help you recover any damages that you are entitled to, due to the fact that your loved one succumbed to Mesothelioma.

Since Mesothelioma usually appears decades after the initial exposure to asbestos, it is important to contact an attorney to handle your case.   There will need to be a lot of information provided regarding former employers, work history, and a detailed health screening to make certain where the exposure to asbestos first took place. Once these facts are established, an attorney can help you decide the best course of action to take.  Should you need to recover damages, your attorney will guide you through every step of the way.

Asbestos is a mineral compound once famous for its heat-resistant qualities.  The ancient Greeks called it the miracle mineral because of its soft pliability and its strong resistance to heat.  They christened the mineral asbestos, which means inextinguishable.

Throughout the ages, asbestos has been prized for its extremely effective insulating qualities as well as its resistance to damage from chemicals and electricity.  It is excellent for soundproofing, possesses a high tensile strength, and can be used to manufacture all sorts of products and building materials used in industry and the home.

Asbestos is composed of long, fibrous crystals that are remarkably lightweight and easy to adapt to many industrial uses.

The mineral was once widely used in the building industry for insulation, siding and roofing shingles.  These building materials produced homes, schools, hospitals, churches, and many other public and private buildings whose manufacture spanned at least 100 years.

 Almost every industry and the military used it for electrical insulation.  The automotive industry made brake shoes and gaskets with it.

In the home, flame-retardant fabrics made from asbestos were made into draperies, upholstery, carpeting, bedding, and clothing.  Electrical ovens and other heat-producing appliances were insulated with asbestos.

In spite of its many uses, there is one incredibly tragic problem with asbestos.  Those long, lightweight crystals become airborne during the manufacturing process, entering the lungs and respiratory passages of anyone in the vicinity.

And anyone doing the laundry or cleaning up after someone who has worked with the substance is at risk, too.  So are people who handle the fabrics made from asbestos.

Those airborne particles lead to a crippling respiratory condition known as asbestosis, which often progresses to mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, heart, and abdominal cavity.

The link between asbestos and deadly mesothelioma were known as long ago as 1898 but manufacturers were unwilling at that time to find alternative materials or safeguard workers’ health.

The first lawsuit filed against a manufacturer of asbestos products didn’t happen until 1929.  Since then, asbestos attorneys and their clients have fought long and hard for safer working conditions and safer products.

Asbestos attorneys have been working with exposure cases around the world since the 1960s.  As a result of their efforts, the use of asbestos has been virtually eliminated in the industrialized world.

Unfortunately, the hazard of asbestos is insidious, with symptoms of exposure often remaining hidden for decades.  By the time diagnosis is made, the patient is often too close to death for any form of treatment other than comfort care.

Even with the halted use of the mineral, asbestos attorneys remain very active, working on the behalf of ill employees seeking restitution and medical care from the employers who used asbestos.

No longer as famous for its heat-resistant qualities as for its deadly consequences, asbestos remains in the news and controversial.

Manufacturers have billions of dollars allocated for assistance to stricken employees but they are reluctant to release payment without tenacious intervention by the patients’ asbestos attorneys.

Asbestos attorneys stay busy fighting objections to medical diagnoses, degree of culpability, and allocation of monetary awards.

Many years ago, a popular building material called asbestos was found to cause cancer and other illnesses, and those who are affected by such diseases will often seek the legal advice of an asbestos law firm. Before it was banned in the mid 1980s, asbestos was widely used in commercial and residential buildings, because it is a good insulator. It can be found in insulation blankets, fireproofing, stoves, joint compound, vinyl tiles, and many other products made before the ban.

There are several different diseases caused by asbestos, though the average asbestos law firm deals largely with the most common illness, which is called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is almost exclusively associated with exposure to asbestos. This disease is characterized by the formation of malignant tumors on the mesothelium, which is a coating that covers most of the internal organs, shielding them from harm. Often, mesothelioma attacks the lungs first, and then proceeds to the rest of the organs if it is not treated.

Other diseases that an asbestos law firm may handle include asbestos warts, pleural plaques, and diffuse pleural thickening. Asbestos warts are growths that form around pieces of asbestos that have lodged into the skin, and they are not malignant in nature. Pleural plaques and diffuse pleural thickening are both characterized by benign growths on the surfaces of the lungs. While pleural plaques do not cause any harm to the person affected by the illness, diffuse pleural thickening can possibly have an ill effect on the function of the lungs, and may reduce a person’s overall quality of life.

The goal of any asbestos law firm is to provide people who suffer from such illnesses with some form of compensation that will help to alleviate the financial, physical, and emotional effects of the condition. There are many firms that specialize in the litigation of such cases. When selecting among them, one should research the previous cases handled by the particular asbestos law firm, the percentage of favorable judgments, and the fees associated with the processing of the case.

If you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, then you may want to consider speaking with an asbestos lawyer. Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is a direct response from exposure to asbestos.  Unfortunately, Mesothelioma doesn’t develop until many decades after the initial exposure.  Therefore, there are many people who are suffering or just being diagnosed with Mesothelioma today, as a response to their exposure many years ago.  An asbestos lawyer can help you determine if the conditions regarding your acquiring Mesothelioma warrant legal action, and if so, they can represent you.

The symptoms of Mesothelioma include shortness of breath, labored breathing, pain in the chest, wheezing, loss of appetite, losing weight, dry cough, being easily fatigued, and fever.  If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your health care provider immediately.

Today, many people have recovered damages and won lawsuits thanks to the hard work performed by lawyers.  If you think your case may warrant civil damages, then you should contact an asbestos lawyer immediately.

An asbestos lawyer may represent someone other than the person who was diagnosed with Mesothelioma.  For instance, if a widower lost her husband to Mesothelioma, she may be able to recover damages for her husband’s death.  She should consider speaking to an asbestos lawyer as well.

An asbestos lawyer will look into your situation and will ask the questions regarding why your or your spouse were not forewarned that the dangers of working with asbestos were great.  If negligence is found and can be proved, then you and your spouse deserve to be compensated.  Mesothelioma is a life threatening condition that is very painful and greatly affects the sufferer’s quality of life.  A qualified and experienced Mesothelioma or asbestos attorney can help you through the legal aspect of your case, and assist your claim in receiving financial compensation for your damages.

Asbestos is a hazardous material that can be deadly if it is breathed in over long periods of time.  While most asbestos is not harmful as long as the fibers do not rip or the material that contains it does not tear and fibers are not released into the air, it is still good to know if asbestos exists in your home or office.  You can visually test for asbestos sometimes, but it’s important that you know exactly what you’re looking for.  Many other building materials also look like asbestos, so you don’t want to get the two confused.  Perhaps the best and most accurate method of asbestos testing involves using a kit which can usually be purchased from a home improvement store, or online.  The kits usually cost around $20-$50 and are the most accurate way to be sure you have asbestos.  A professional company who performs asbestos testing may charge anywhere from $200-$500, so it’s much more cost effective to try and do it yourself with a purchased kit first.

Asbestos testing kits require you to get a small sample of an area of materials that you feel may contain asbestos.  This material is then mailed off to a lab where they have special asbestos testing equipment.  The lab then tests for the presence of asbestos, as well as the level of severity.  Once they are complete, the results are either mailed or emailed back to you so you can then take the next step.  If you are not satisfied with the results or would like a second opinion, there are professionals who come to you and test the air and other bulk materials.  This is especially recommended for larger buildings.  If your home was built before 1978, it is definitely recommended that you test for asbestos, no matter which method you choose.

Asbestos is a strong and incombustible fiber, one that is used in a vast number of products, more so in the past, and namely those involving fireproofing and insulation. The reason that asbestos is generally not used today is because of the various risks that have been found to be related to it. It is a natural mineral with unusual qualities, and although it is a good insulator against heat and electricity, there is various health risks associated with exposure to the fiber.

Asbestos poses health risks when fibers are in the air that people can breathe, and the asbestos fibers then lodge in the lungs and can even cause scarring that will most likely ultimately lead to severely impaired lung function in the person’s body. The first time there was any real expressed concern regarding asbestos was back in the 1800s, then even more pronounced in the late 1960s when workers who had been heavily exposed 20 to 30 years earlier began to show increased incidence of lung disease.

Asbestos Analysis

Really the only known way to determine whether or not there are levels of asbestos in the air is by conducting an asbestos analysis. If you are not sure whether products in your home contain asbestos then you are going to want to call in an experienced contractor who will be able to check around in your home and determine whether or not there is a problem. Unless you are specifically knowledgeable and experienced in this area you should not attempt to take care of the problem yourself.

The asbestos analysis will usually not take long, although it can often be a complex and expensive matter when it comes to actually removing any asbestos that is found. Again this should only be done by an experienced contractor, and when disturbing an asbestos product, maximum precautions need to be taken in order to ensure that all people in the area are going to be safeguarded and protected.

Once the asbestos analysis has been completed you are going to have to take precautions to protect yourself in the future, and namely you are going to want to reduce the air pressure in order to prevent asbestos fibers from escaping from the work area if it does happen to return. Make sure that you always dispose of all waste appropriate according to the specific guidelines of your provincial department of the environment, and always get a second opinion if you are ever not sure about something.

Asbestos related health hazards in the home and in the workplace can be considered as among one of the most controversial issues of chemical contaminants in the last twenty years. Because asbestos exposure tends to take some time to manifest its symptoms, it was only in the past decade or so that its effects and implications entered the public consciousness when the first cases came out.

Housing materials of the past half-century and some appliances made before the 80s contained sufficient asbestos to have caused exposure. If you have only begun to be aware of the possibility that you may have materials in your home that may contain asbestos, then it is prudent that you might want to consider having an asbestos inspection.

An asbestos inspection can be as simple as finding a lab that should be able to assist you in collecting a sample of a material suspected of containing asbestos and then analyzing it, the costs of which are not expensive and usually below $50.

Or if you believe that a more thorough asbestos inspection may be necessary, you can contact a certified inspector for that purpose that may help you in not only identifying risky materials and components, but also giving you advice on how to dispose of such materials. Another good source to find help or assistance in an asbestos inspection is your local or state health departments.

Outside the home, the work place can also be a source of asbestos exposure. If your profession is involved in the manufacturing of asbestos related materials or other products, insulation work, ship-building, construction and building and even fire-fighting, you have to be aware of the conditions that define your work.

In the first place, if the industry you’re working for knows that it deals with high concentrations of asbestos, an asbestos inspection may not be necessary granting that the industry or company has the proper safeguards in place to protect you and your co-workers.

A company that knows the health risks involved also knows the potential for lawsuits and claims so it is in their best interest to provide their workers with protection. But then there are those who either ignore it or are hiding it. It is up to you to familiarize yourself with the problem and alert the proper authorities if there is sufficient reason to believe that exposure are present.