Asbestos Legal Advice
From Adviceopedia
Working around asbestos is dangerous to your health, if you have been exposed seek asbestos legal advice.
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Asbestos is a Mineral
Asbestos is a mineral that was used in numerous products, but is most known for it's use in insulation. Highly prized for its heat-resistant properties and flexibility, it was also used to make pipes, ceiling tiles, and a number of other products.
Asbestos Poisoning
Illnesses caused by exposure to asbestos are called "Asbestos Poisoning." Asbestos fibers break off very easily when disturbed. Once they are airborne, the fibers can be inhaled. Inhalation of asbestos fibers has been linked to several diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma.
The symptoms of asbestos poisoning are not apparent right away; a person exposed to asbestos may not develop symptoms for 10 years or more. In some cases, the disease lies dormant for up to 50 years!
Occupation and Residency Key Risk Factors
Your job can correlate with asbestos poisoning. People working in certain occupations are more likely to be (or have been) exposed to asbestos. The risk is higher for those individuals working in:
- Factories
- Shipyards
- Construction
- Railyards
People who live near these types of businesses are also at an increased risk for asbestos poisoning. The fibers are released into the air and the neighborhood is contaminated as a result.
Asbestos Legal Advice
If an individual's health has suffered due to asbestos exposure, consider seeking asbestos legal advice to make a claim for damages by starting an asbestos lawsuit. The lawsuit can name a manufacturer or employer as defendants. Building owners or landlords can also be named in the legal action if it can be alleged that they failed to protect the person from exposure due to negligence.
There are strict time limits for making a claim for compensation in a personal injury or wrongful death case. For this reason, it is important to seek legal advice immediately. Once the time limit set out in the Statute of Limitations has run out, you do not have any legal recourse.
Compensation for Asbestos Poisoning
Companies who used asbestos knew about the health risks associated with its use and failed to advise workers accordingly. For this reason, they are legally responsible for the damage caused to the workers' health.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with lung cancer or mesothelioma, contact a lawyer who has experience dealing with asbestos cases. He or she will launch a personal injury lawsuit.
Survivors (spouse and/or children) of a person who died as the result of asbestos poisoning can also bring a legal action for wrongful death.
Link Between Asbestos Poisoning and 9/11
A number of rescue workers and those participating in the cleanup after the events of September 11, 2001 have developed symptoms associated with asbestos poisoning. When the Twin Towers collapsed, the cloud of dust released into the air was full of asbestos fibers. The workers were not issued protective devices or equipment for their lungs.
A class action lawsuit has been started by workers who were present on that day against the Federal Government. The injured workers have alleged that the government misled them and the public when it stated that there were no health risks associated with breathing the air near Ground Zero.
It has been estimated that more than 20,000 people (workers and their families) have had their health negatively effected by inhaling the dust caused by the buildings' collapse. The cost to the health care system has been estimated at $400 million dollars per year.
