Chod Law, LLC Representing Victims of Asbestos Related Illnesses
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been widely used across several industries for years. In North America, asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s and became a popular construction material due to its resilient properties. It has been used in the shipbuilding industry to insulate boilers and steam pipes, in the automotive industry in brake shoes and clutch pads, in the railroad industry in various forms, and has even been used in paint materials, floor tiles and insulation.
But while asbestos was commonly used in the United States for centuries, it was found to pose a health risk for those exposed to the mineral. While intact, asbestos risks are not as threatening. However, when the mineral is disturbed, its fibers are released into the air and unknowingly breathed into the respiratory system. The fibers then become lodged in the lungs and many years later can lead to serious asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma cancer.
What You Should Know about Asbestos
Even though the dangers associated with asbestos exposure have been well known for years, the mineral was used for decades across the world without second thought. In the early 1900s industry began to suspect that certain health complications were directly related to asbestos. By 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos. Although asbestos has been classified as a human carcinogen, to this day the United States remains one of a few developed countries that have yet to fully ban the use of all products containing some forms of asbestos. Individuals who were employed in the shipbuilding industry, mining or milling industries, textile industry, railroad industry and construction industry have an increased risk of developing asbestos-related diseases due to the prevalence of materials within these industries containing some form of asbestos.
In the United States manufacturers, sellers, distributors, and employers are under a legal duty to abide by safety standards including a duty to warn those using their products of any potential dangers. When a company and those in the chain of commerce fail to comply with applicable safety standards, they may be held liable for damages causally related to the diagnosed illnesses. Likewise, employers who have knowledge of asbestos within a work environment must not only disclose this information to its workforce, but must ensure their workers are fully protected from exposure with adequate safety gear.
Asbestos exposure has been linked to the following medical conditions:
- Asbestosis (An inflammatory condition affecting the lungs that causes shortness of breath, coughing and permanent tissue damage)
- Pleural Plaque, Pleural Thickening and Pleural Effusions (Illnesses affecting the membranes lining the lungs and chest cavity)
- Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma (A cancer of the membranes lining the chest and abdomen)
- Gastrointestinal Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer – and several others
The development of symptoms and the underlying illness can occur up to 40 years after exposure and the vast majority of asbestos-related illnesses are life-threatening, especially mesothelioma. Those suffering from mesothelioma rarely live five (5) years past the date of diagnosis.
Compensation for Asbestos Victims
If you, a loved one or someone you know has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness or cancer, Chod Law, LLC has the experience and knowledge to investigate whether a potential legal claim for compensation exists. Chod Law, LLC is committed to helping individuals afflicted with these illnesses and to protect the rights of their family members.
