An Asbestos Attorney Can Help Military Veterans Suffer From Mesothelioma
Asbestos sufferers often suffer from ailments like lung cancer or mesothelioma that can take decades to show symptoms. A New York asbestos lawyer can help those suffering from this debilitating condition get compensation for their losses.
An attorney could make a claim for asbestos compensation against building or worksite owners, manufacturers and others who are responsible for exposing workers as well as consumers to this deadly mineral.
Military Personnel
From the 1930s through the 1970s, asbestos was extensively used throughout the military. It improved the resistance to fire as well as the heat insulation the tensile strength of vessels, bases, aircrafts and vehicles. Veterans who worked with asbestos-containing substances or were around them are more at chance of developing cancers such as mesothelioma. The Navy is responsible for the greatest number of asbestos-related illnesses, however members of other branches of the military are also at risk of being exposed to this carcinogen.
Asbestos was used extensively on Navy ships and armored vehicles. It was used in boiler rooms and engine room to act as an insulation and was ropes were made on boats. Even the bedding, ceiling tiles and flooring were constructed from asbestos. When these products degraded they released toxic asbestos lawsuit fibers into the air. When asbestos dust is breathed in, it could cause serious health issues, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Army veterans are also at risk of mesothelioma because of their exposure to this dangerous substance. Although the Army stopped using new asbestos products in the late 1970s, many Army bases were still stocked with years of asbestos-based materials that were not replaced or removed. When they were on the base, Army personnel were exposed to asbestos while working on military vehicles and equipment, including brake and electric wiring. The mineral that causes harm was present in the Army’s barracks and living quarters.
Additionally, soldiers were deployed to war zones and occupied buildings were in the process of being bombed or burned down. These sites were often filled with large quantities of asbestos that were burned before being released into the air. Inhaling asbestos, these veterans suffered serious health consequences. If a veteran is diagnosed with mesothelioma an asbestos lawyer can assist them recover financial compensation for medical expenses, lost income and home care, pain, funeral and burial costs as well as pain and discomfort. A successful claim could also be able to compensate veterans for their families’ losses if they lose a loved one to mesothelioma or other asbestos case-related illnesses. A lawyer who specializes in asbestos law may be able to assist family members in suing negligent firms that sold and made asbestos-related products that are dangerous.
Industrial Workers
Asbestos was a popular material used in the workplace of a lot of industrial workers across New York State. This is especially true for those who worked on construction projects, shipyards and power factories, textile mills, automotive brakes, and other industries that used asbestos extensively in the 20th century.
Asbestos was frequently included in various building materials, like fireproof coatings, insulation and drywall. Additionally it was used in the production of many consumer goods, including roofing, flooring and pipes. Many public institutions also employed asbestos, such as hospitals, schools, offices and sewage treatment plants. Unfortunately, these industries have closed, and many victims now suffer from asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Mechanics, fabricators and welders who work with equipment and vehicles that contain asbestos or work in older buildings that do not have asbestos abatement are the most at risk. They may have also handled asbestos-contaminated tools and safety gear, such as gloves and fire blankets made of asbestos-treated cotton.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recognized that these types of jobs are more at risk for exposure than many other professions. Some people who have served in the military or in recovery and rescue efforts following natural disasters are at risk of being exposed when they enter damaged building.
Anyone who has recently suffered symptoms of asbestos exposure should speak to an New York mesothelioma lawyer immediately. It is important to report any suspected exposure now, since the time limit for most personal injury claims is three years from an incident. If asbestos is the cause of disease, this time period may be extended as it could take as long as 50 years for mesothelioma or other diseases to develop.
If a person is diagnosed with a condition such as asbestosis or mesothelioma and asbestosis, it can have profound consequences for their family members and loved ones. A New York mesothelioma lawyer can assist those who have been diagnosed with the financial compensation required to help their families.
Secondhand Exposure
Asbestos can cause cancer and lung diseases, including mesothelioma. When asbestos was used extensively in American industries in the 20th century, these risks extended beyond people who handled the material. The tiny asbestos fibers tend to stick to clothing, hair and equipment. Blue-collar workers would bring the dust home on their clothes or hair, or on the tools they used at work they did not realize that they exposed their spouses and children to these dangerous particles. This was known as secondary exposure.
This has led to a large number of people who have never worked with asbestos in the workplace are now receiving mesothelioma diagnoses. They can file lawsuits against the companies that failed warn about the risks of their products. An experienced attorney can assist victims in tracing the cause of their exposure, and locating the defendant who could be held accountable for their error.
Contact an asbestos exposure lawyer immediately if you are diagnosed with a condition related to asbestos. These attorneys can help victims find sources of compensation to cover medical bills and other expenses. Additionally, mesothelioma sufferers may pursue wrongful death claims against companies that neglected their duty to warn about the dangers associated with their products.
Construction workers are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma. Construction workers are at risk of asbestos-related illnesses since they typically remodel, demolish and reconstruct old structures that contain asbestos materials.
Although there is no cure for mesothelioma the symptoms can be controlled by taking medications. These medications can increase the chance of survival and enhance the quality of life of a victim. These medical treatments can be expensive. Obtaining compensation is often difficult.
New Jersey, as well as other states, have enacted laws that permit spouses of asbestos workers hold negligent employers responsible for their health issues. In order to succeed in bringing these lawsuits, victims must demonstrate that the defendant’s negligence caused exposure to asbestos. This can be a difficult task when mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other diseases have a long latency of 30 years or more.
Homeowners
You may be entitled to compensation if you have mesothelioma, a lung disease, due to asbestos exposure. You can make a personal injury claim against the company that exposed you to asbestos, or you could be entitled to compensation through an asbestos trust fund claim. A New York asbestos lawyer can assist you in deciding the best way to proceed.
Although asbestos isn’t mined or processed in the United States, it can be present in many buildings and homes. It was used as insulation, especially for older buildings that had to withstand fires and extreme temperatures. It was also used for building materials such as pipes, ceilings and roofing shingles. Other asbestos-containing products included flooring, paper products, felt and fake fireplace embers. Asbestos was also used to create friction products for automobiles (brake transmission, clutch and brake pads) and heat-resistant clothing.
If these materials are disturbed, asbestos-like airborne fibers are released. These fibers can also cling to clothing, posing the possibility of exposure to second-hand asbestos. Homeowners who are remodeling should have their properties inspected for asbestos. If asbestos is found, it should be tested before removal by a professional.
Homeowners should not attempt to take samples of materials themselves. Asbestos is an extremely difficult material to test, and attempting to take samples without the proper education could expose homeowners and others living in the vicinity to take on dangerous health hazards. A qualified professional can advise that asbestos-containing materials should be left alone if they are in good condition and will not be disturbed.
Asbestos-related diseases can be extremely painful and dangerous, however they can be treated. A knowledgeable asbestos lawyer can assist victims and their families by filing claims for compensation against negligent builders, employers and product manufacturers. Contact an New York asbestos lawyer today in the event that you or someone near suffers from an asbestos litigation-related illness. Our lawyers will evaluate your case free of charge and we won’t get paid unless you are paid. Contact us today to set up your complimentary legal consultation.