Compensation For Asbestos Exposure
People who are regularly exposed to asbestos may be at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases. This includes firefighters, building workers, and people who live in older structures that contain asbestos-containing products.
Compensation for asbestos exposure may help with medical costs as well as lost wages and travel expenses. An experienced attorney can help victims file a suit against the responsible manufacturers or companies.
Work History
In the past asbestos lawyers was utilized in a variety of manufacturing products because of its strength and fire resistance. It was used in the liner of ships and steam engines, as well as in paper and drywall insulation products. Industrial workers were exposed to asbestos through the mining, milling, and production of asbestos-containing products. Heavy exposures reached their peak between the 1960s and 1970s, but then decreased due to safety rules for workers and declining industrial use.
People who have worked directly with asbestos are at highest risk of developing mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases. People who work with asbestos regularly and may breathe in asbestos-related particles or ingest them when handling the product. Shipyard workers, construction workers, asbestos abatement contractor, and custodial or maintenance workers are all high-risk jobs.
Even those who work in low-risk jobs are still at risk of developing mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos in the workplace. The time between asbestos-related diseases is long. Hairdressers, farmers, and engineers are among the most at-risk professions.
However, military veterans are the population most at risk for mesothelioma as a result of their high level of occupational exposure to asbestos. The Navy used asbestos extensively from 1930 and 1970, which means that sailors were exposed to asbestos material on ships at sea and while building and maintaining naval facilities on land. The veterans comprise approximately 30% of all mesothelioma cases filed. Family members of these veterans also could file mesothelioma claims.
People who live near asbestos-contaminated sites are also at risk of mesothelioma and other diseases that are linked to asbestos. Secondhand exposure is possible when workers carry asbestos-containing fibers home on their clothing or skin. Secondhand exposure can also occur when children play in contaminated areas that workers have visited. The same applies to those who reside near asbestos mines or processing factories. To obtain compensation, many victims of mesothelioma filed lawsuits against the companies. The lawsuits could help pay for expenses for medical treatment and lost wages.
Medical Records
Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally that was once prized for its fire-resistant and durable properties. Before the federal government began regulating asbestos in the 1970s, it was utilized in a variety of household and in business. As a matter of fact, asbestos can be hazardous to health and a number of serious diseases have been linked to the mineral. It is extremely toxic. If you've worked with asbestos or think that you have been exposed to the harmful substance, it is essential to keep a record of your medical records so that your doctor can be aware of signs of asbestos-related diseases.
The majority of those who suffer from asbestos-related diseases were exposed the substance while working. It can be caused by work in fields such as construction, shipbuilding and manufacturing power plants, mines, power plants and more. Asbestos fibres can enter the lungs and cause scarring of lung tissue called asbestosis. This condition can lead to breathing difficulties, and it can lead to mesothelioma or other lung cancers.
The lungs are a complex organ with numerous passageways. The main airways called bronchi branch into smaller and more narrow passageways which eventually result in tiny sacs containing alveoli, a blood cell that is oxygen-rich. These cells form the lung's lining as well as the chest cavity. When asbestos is inhaled, the fibers may cause damage to these tissues and irritate the respiratory and circulatory systems.
Secondhand smoke is also a form of indirect exposure to asbestos. Military personnel and those who handled asbestos lawsuits-containing products often brought asbestos-containing materials to their homes on their skin and clothing. The family members who wash these clothes also are at risk.
Exposure to asbestos can also be triggered when the material is disturbed during product use, demolition work and home or building re-models and repairs or during natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and tsunamis. Asbestos-containing materials can be blown into the air during these events and contaminate their surroundings.
Veterans who served between the 1930s and the early 1980s in the Navy, or other branches of military service are at a greater risk of asbestos exposure. They may be qualified for financial assistance through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Our team is available to assist these veterans in building strong VA claims for benefits that include trust funds compensation.
Expert Witnesses
Expert witnesses are professionals who provide opinions to help the jury reach a decision in court cases. Expert witnesses are selected due to their specific expertise and knowledge or experience in specific areas. Experts also have special education or training. They can help explain to the jury information that is not widely known, such as the reason why a screw's design differs from other screws or what medical condition was caused by exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos experts will analyze your work background to determine if you've been exposed to asbestos in your work. Most often, these experts have a background in industrial hygiene or occupational health and safety. They can testify to the equipment you use at your workplace and the materials may have been contaminated by asbestos attorneys. They can also provide information into asbestos removal or testing methods that might have been employed at your workplace.
Medical experts can also be important to the success of your case. They will go through your medical records and conduct physical examinations to assess whether there is a link between your asbestos exposure and the illness you suffer from such as mesothelioma. They will also provide you with an idea of your expected life span and prognosis.
Lastly, economic and medical experts will evaluate the financial consequences of your accident. They can help the jury understand how your asbestos attorney diagnosis has affected your family and yourself. These experts can also calculate how much compensation you deserve.
Some asbestos lawsuits involve claims of negligence or failure to warn. Generally, this is the situation when companies were responsible for exposing employees to asbestos lawsuit. The companies were aware of asbestos' dangers, but chose to conceal the risks to their employees and the general public. The lapses exposed workers to asbestos at work, which led to serious health problems including mesothelioma.
It can be a challenge to find and evaluate potential experts, but having a advance warning could save you money and time in the future. This will ensure that your asbestos lawyer has the ability to get the most skilled and reputable experts in the field.
Documentation
Those diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses are entitled to compensation under the law. To make a claim you will need to provide extensive evidence to show that asbestos was present in the workplace or another setting. This information can come from a variety of sources and must be carefully compiling.
The person who is being investigated should be able to provide a complete record of their work, including dates. They should also keep track of the types of tasks and equipment they used. This is important in determining the possibility of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. If they can, patients are advised to note down the names and contact numbers of any coworkers who might be able to testify in the case.
It is important to document whether the employer took steps to avoid exposure. If they did not, it could mean that they're responsible for the illness of the victim. For instance, if an employer knew that workers were exposed to asbestos, but failed to provide the proper safety equipment or adhere to industry standards, then this would be a clear evidence of negligence.
If an asbestos-related company failed to warn their employees about the dangers of asbestos, or to instruct them properly on how to handle these products, that is also a strong evidence of negligence. Furthermore, if an individual was exposed to asbestos for many years or even decades, it is a clear indication that they could be a victim of a mesothelioma claim.
A mesothelioma lawyer can help victims collect this evidence and put them together into an application for compensation. This compensation can help offset medical expenses as well as lost wages and other intangibles arising from an asbestos-related diagnoses.
Many people who have been exposed asbestos aren't aware of their legal rights. Some people may think that mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related illness, was developed far too long ago to pursue compensation. Others worry that they cannot file a lawsuit since the companies that are responsible for their asbestos exposure are no longer in existence.
These myths may delay the filing of mesothelioma claims or asbestos trust fund claim. This is why it's imperative that victims and their families consult an experienced mesothelioma lawyer immediately.