New research published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) discovered people are still developing health conditions caused by asbestos exposure. The CDC’s report shows a 4.8 percent increase in mesothelioma deaths between the years of 1999 and 2015. In addition, 682 of those deaths were among people ages 25 to 44. This report shows policies created decades ago to prevent asbestos exposure have not provided adequate protection. People affected by exposure or their families may have grounds for asbestos lawsuits.
Asbestos, a group of six naturally occurring minerals, was a common manufacturing product in the 1970s and into the 1980s. Congress banned many consumer products containing the substance during the 1970s. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created guidelines to prevent workplace exposure.
Airborne asbestos particles can become embedded in lung tissue, where they cause illnesses like mesothelioma or asbestosis.
How Can Keefe Law Firm Help with Asbestos Lawsuits?
Individuals or family members may have legal options to hold businesses, manufacturers and property owners accountable for damages caused by exposure to asbestos. An attorney can help accomplish this goal in several ways.
- Mesothelioma takes a long time to develop, meaning there are plenty of records. Your attorney can go through your employment history or places you have lived to see if there are records of other people who have succumbed to asbestos-related illnesses.
- Businesses, apartment buildings or other parties may have records spanning back decades. These records may show asbestos was used in a workplace or for the construction of a building.
There are many methods of establishing liability during the discovery phase of an asbestos lawsuit. Damages from a lawsuit can help pay for medical bills, lost income and pain and suffering.
The New Jersey personal injury attorneys at Keefe Law Firm have experience representing individuals harmed by asbestos and their families. Our asbestos attorneys can discuss the details of your situation at no cost.