Exposed to Asbestos in the Workplace?
New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Assist with Your Personal Injury Lawsuit
Asbestos is a mineral that was once heavily mined and used in a wide variety of products due to its heat and flame-resistant properties. However, numerous studies show that asbestos exposure causes serious illnesses, including the aggressive cancer mesothelioma. Many asbestos-related diseases may not develop until decades after exposure. For this reason, asbestos use is now mostly banned throughout the United States. Nevertheless, many people are still suffering the effects of exposure, and many older buildings and products still contain asbestos.
If you or a loved one develops the symptoms of mesothelioma or any asbestos-related disease, you may be able to receive compensation to help pay for medical bills and more. A New Jersey mesothelioma lawyer from Keefe Law Firm can investigate your case and determine who is responsible for your condition. Our attorneys have decades of experience with these kinds of claims.
What Are the Dangers and Possible Effects of Asbestos Exposure?
Mineral asbestos is fibrous, which makes it resistant to heat and chemicals. However, when asbestos degrades or breaks, it releases microscopic fibers into the air. If you breathe in or swallow these fibers, they can become lodged in the lining of your lungs or esophagus. These fibers can then cause a number of different asbestos-related diseases, including:
- Mesothelioma. This aggressive cancer is the most common and deadly result of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma usually affects the lining of the lungs, but it may also appear in the tissue of the abdomen and surrounding the heart. This cancer can take up to 50 years to show symptoms, but it is often fatal within a year of detection.
- Other cancers. Besides mesothelioma, asbestos inhalation may also cause other types of cancers. Lung cancer is the most common, especially among smokers with a history of asbestos exposure.
- Asbestosis. This disease causes scarring of the lung tissue, which prevents normal lung function. This can lead to heart disease as well as other complications. While asbestosis can be fatal, treatment options are often available. A combination of medication and surgery may allow individuals with asbestosis to live many years after diagnosis.
Even after the dangers of asbestos exposure were widely known, many companies continued using this hazardous substance and did not warn workers of the risks. As a result of this negligence, millions of workers’ lives were put at risk unnecessarily. Additionally, some workers may not realize they came into contact with asbestos until they are diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. However, we may still be able to find the company responsible for your condition.
How Do I File an Asbestos Lawsuit in New Jersey?
The biggest difficulty facing mesothelioma victims is that decades often pass before any symptoms appear. As a result, you may not know exactly where your asbestos exposure occurred, especially if you have worked many different jobs or suffered secondhand asbestos exposure. However, the history of asbestos litigation is well documented. A New Jersey mesothelioma lawyer can compare your work history against recognized cases of asbestos exposure. Then, we can determine which company or companies are most likely responsible for your injuries.
Mesothelioma is technically an occupational disease and work injury, since it commonly results from on-the-job asbestos exposure. However, by the time you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis, you likely no longer work for the company responsible. Sometimes, the company liable for your work injury may even be out of business or bankrupt. In these cases, you may be entitled to compensation through a bankruptcy trust. Certain companies have established bankruptcy trusts to pay workers who filed asbestos exposure lawsuits.
Mesothelioma cases involving secondhand asbestos exposure are much less common than occupational disease cases. However, the process of investigation and filing an asbestos lawsuit is very much the same. Regardless of when or how your asbestos exposure occurred, a mesothelioma lawyer can assist you in a bankruptcy trust claim or a personal injury lawsuit. This compensation can cover your medical expenses and help provide for your family’s future.
Learn More about Asbestos Litigation in a Free Consultation from a Mesothelioma Lawyer
A diagnosis of mesothelioma prompts many questions. How did this happen? Can I afford treatment? How will I provide for my family? At Keefe Law Firm, we have decades of experience helping asbestos exposure victims answer these difficult questions in Red Bank, New Brunswick, Newark, Point Pleasant and throughout New Jersey. We continue to represent workers diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases in a variety of industries. These include electricians, pipefitters, steel and iron workers, shipbuilders and more.
If you need a mesothelioma lawyer, contact us online or call one of our offices and schedule a free consultation.