Exposure to asbestos can cause you severe health problems, but the worst it could do to you is; trigger a deadly form of cancer known as mesothelioma. And if you get diagnosed with this disease sometime after quitting a job, then your former boss should cater for your hospital bills and related expenses.
These cases are common in highly industrialized areas. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reported that Louisiana had the highest number of deaths resulting from mesothelioma in the U.S between 1999 & 2015. Industries that expose their employees to asbestos include ship construction, chemical production, and oil refining.
About Asbestos
Asbestos is a general term scientist use to describe the many different fibrous minerals that occur naturally, and have been used in the manufacture of various products in America for over hundreds of years due to their high heat-resistant properties.
Several studies have established that asbestos exposure— in the form of airborne particles— is the cause of the vicious mesothelioma. And while the knowledge of a possible connection between asbestos and mesothelioma has been around for decades, the companies responsible for manufacturing asbestos have been hesitant to warn users about it. As a result, millions of Americans have lost their lives to the dangerous asbestos fibers.
The first official discovery of the risks of exposure to asbestos was made in 1918, but up to now, asbestos remains a common element in most industrial processes. Even as you read this, asbestos use is still legal in the U.S., with only a few federal regulations on its production, use, and dumping. There are also legal protections for workers who are at the risk of exposure.
About Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is one of the many incurable forms of cancer connected to asbestos exposure. You can get infected by inhaling atomic asbestos particles. It takes 10-60 years after an exposure to develop Mesothelioma.
The cancer usually manifests in the chest cavity and lungs but may affect the tissue from other body organs.
The two forms of mesothelioma include;
- Peritoneal mesothelioma (affects the heart)
- Pleural mesothelioma, (affects the lungs)
While a mesothelioma diagnosis means an average life expectancy 12 to 21 months after diagnosis, victims can survive longer if the cancer is spotted in its premature stages. There are even cases where tumors have been removed, and patients have recovered.
Why you need to Find a Lawyer If You’re Exposed to Asbestos at Work
Mesothelioma management involves lots of complex and costly health process that a regular citizen may not afford— but the company you worked hard for definitely can. That’s why you don’t deserve to go through the tough times alone.
In case you didn’t know, there are federal laws protecting employees from such dangers. But some companies will naturally want to do away with you and evade the expenses of treating and compensating you for the asbestos exposure.
That’s why you need an experienced lawyer for asbestos exposure for is the first person you should look for as soon as your doctor confirms that you’ve been exposed to asbestos. Lawyers are an equal opponent to the defendant (the company) than when you try seeking justice alone. You may succeed in pushing something out of the firm responsible for your tragedy, but it may not be what you’re eligible to by law. An attorney will ensure you are adequately compensated.
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