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Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that can be highly toxic when inhaled, absorbed, or otherwise ingested by the body. For many years, asbestos was a commonly used insulation material. Individuals who have worked in construction trades, manufacturing plants, railroads, and other occupations where insulation or construction materials are present may have been exposed to asbestos.
Asbestos fibers, when taken into the body, can cause ailments including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and a number of cancers. Ordinarily, asbestos related health problems do not develop without extended exposure, but some individuals can develop problems based on exposures that are relatively limited.
Asbestos is generally regarded as most dangerous when it is airborne. If you encounter asbestos in your home or workplace, you should not remove it yourself. Professional asbestos abatement services are available, and such agencies should be consulted to ensure that the asbestos is removed and disposed of in a safe, environmentally sound manner.
If you believe that you have been exposed to asbestos and have sustained injuries as a result of such exposure, you may wish to seek legal counsel. Thousands of individuals have already recovered monies as a result of legal actions against the manufacturers of asbestos.
A wealth of information is available showing that the manufacturers of asbestos were aware of their productsâ highly toxic nature, and that these manufacturers chose to ignore such evidence when placing asbestos into the marketplace. Therefore, the primary burden on an individual who has been injured by asbestos in bringing legal action is to make sure that (1) his or her claim is timely filed and not barred by any applicable statute of limitations; and (2) to identify all asbestos containing products to which he or she was exposed.
Statutes of limitation are time deadlines for the filing of legal cases. If you fail to file a case within the time specified by law, you will receive no recovery, regardless of the severity of your injuries. Statutes of limitation with regard to asbestos claims differ from state to state. Therefore, if you believe that you have been injured due to exposure to asbestos, you should contact an attorney immediately to learn what statute of limitation applies to your case.
Individuals who have been injured by exposure to asbestos must be able to identify products to which they were exposed in order to establish their right to recover against particular asbestos manufacturers. Product identification can be accomplished in a number of ways. For example:
If you consult with an attorney with regard to a potential asbestos claim, you may be asked whether you remember the names of any products that were present in your workplace. Your attorney may ask you to review a book of photographs of various asbestos products, which may refresh your memory about what products were present at your jobsite.
Your attorney may also ask if you remember the names of any co-workers, supervisors, or other personnel from the companies, unions, or worksites where you were exposed. Even if you do not recall the names of asbestos products that were present, these individuals may remember, thereby establishing a link between particular products and your injuries. Further, such individuals or entities may have records of what supplies were ordered for particular jobsites.
If you were exposed to asbestos during the course of your employment, you may also be entitled to recover workersâ compensation benefits for injuries that you have sustained. Like statutes of limitation, workersâ compensation laws vary from state to state. If you believe you have sustained an injury due to workplace exposure to asbestos, consultation with an attorney may assist you in clarifying your rights to recover workersâ compensation, as well as other monies for your pain, suffering, and permanent injuries.
Not knowing the facts can be the most dangerous thing for people who have worked with or around asbestos. People who donât know the facts about asbestos may never know about the problems . . . like mesothelioma . . that asbestos can cause. People who donât know the facts about asbestos may never know of their rights against the asbestos companies. People who donât know the facts about asbestos may never know that they (or a family member or friend) have million dollar lungs.
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