Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma

Asbestos Exposure, Mesothelioma and Your Legal Rights

Courts across the country have returned multimillion verdicts against manufacturers in asbestos-related illness cases. Such manufacturers have been culpable in exposing individuals and workers to asbestos fumes. Also, the severity of the exposure has led to severe and sometimes fatal illness for victims. 

It is for this reason that the attorneys at Smiley & Smiley, LLP, in New York City, have taken such an aggressive approach in holding these manufacturers accountable. We fight for the sort of compensation that provides you and your family a chance to financially cope with such devastating illnesses. Our attorneys also have the experience, knowledge and skills to handle the most complex of asbestos-related cases. 

The Dangers of Asbestos

The lungs are composed of surprisingly sensitive tissue. When toxins and other irritants disturb lung tissue, the effects can be devastating. One such irritant is dust that contains asbestos fibers. When inhaled, asbestos fibers can irritate the lungs or stomach to the point that mesothelioma develops. This incurable cancer can affect every area of a person’s life. Unfortunately, though asbestos exposure is preventable, it happens all too frequently. Often, such exposure is something that a patient can hold an employer or other party liable for. 

Asbestos is a mineral that has proven itself useful in a myriad of ways. However, the toxicity of asbestos demands that it should be generally avoided. In absence of proper safety equipment, it should be especially avoided. It is most often found in insulation, flooring, shingles, brakes and other consumer products. However, it is most dangerous in dust form, or other forms that can be easily inhaled or swallowed. Asbestos dust is often created during the mining process or during insulation removal. 

Causes Of Mesothelioma

Though science is not yet perfectly explainable, mesothelioma develops over a period following asbestos exposure. Though not everyone exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma, there are several factors that may indicate that an individual is particularly susceptible to contracting the condition. These factors include: 

• Family history of members who have developed mesothelioma 
• Personal exposure to asbestos 
• Residing in the same house as an individual who regularly works with asbestos fibers 
• Substantial exposure to radiation 

Other factors may increase susceptibility to mesothelioma, such as certain forms of polio vaccine, though these links are still being explored. The latency period between asbestos exposure and the detection of mesothelioma can be decades long. As a result, many Americans are only now discovering that they have developed this incurable condition. Unfortunately, this reality makes it difficult to hold employers and other individuals accountable for one’s mesothelioma diagnosis. 

However, attorneys experienced in toxic asbestos and products liability cases are well-versed in the complexities of holding individuals accountable for decades-old exposure. Given the high costs of medical care associated with treating mesothelioma, obtaining deserved compensation is particularly important for exposure victims.