The Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit

Decades of research have proven that exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral, can cause cancer and other serious diseases. 

If you or a loved one were born before 1959, have been exposed to asbestos, and developed mesothelioma or lung, throat, stomach, colon, rectal, pharyngeal, laryngeal, or esophageal cancer, you may be entitled to compensation. 

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber resistant to heat and corrosion. Because of these properties, manufacturers have used asbestos in products like insulation, fireproofing materials, automotive brakes, and drywall.

Disturbing asbestos-containing products can release tiny fibers into the lungs, throat, stomach, or other organs, where they can cause damage that may lead to cancer, even decades later.

The use of asbestos goes back centuries, but its popularity surged in the 20th-century U.S., particularly in construction and shipbuilding. Unfortunately, its usefulness couldn’t outweigh the harm it caused to millions of people. In fact, asbestos exposure-related deaths connected to various occupations rose 20.2% in the U.S. from 1990 to 2019. 

Who is at risk for asbestos exposure?

In the United States, an estimated 27 million workers were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers between 1940 and 1979. 

Jobs in shipbuilding, asbestos mining and manufacturing, insulation work, construction, and various other trades have long carried significant risks of asbestos exposure. Demolition workers, drywall removers, firefighters, and automobile workers may have also come into contact with the dangerous substance. 

Family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos may also face an increased risk of mesothelioma, often from fibers brought home on clothing, shoes, skin, or hair. 

Additionally, individuals who never worked with asbestos but lived near asbestos mines have reportedly developed mesothelioma.

There is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. Even brief asbestos exposure can lead to the development of an asbestos-related condition. Though most people show no symptoms for many years, conditions such as cancer can take 10 to 40 years or more to develop.

Asbestos and cancer

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recognize asbestos as a human carcinogen. According to the IARC, there is strong evidence that asbestos causes mesothelioma, a rare cancer affecting the thin membranes lining the chest and abdomen, as well as several other forms of cancer. 

Cancers determined to have a relationship with asbestos exposure include:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung Cancer
• Throat cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Colon cancer 
• Rectal cancer
• Pharyngeal cancer
• Laryngeal cancer
• Esophageal cancer

What is the asbestos exposure lawsuit?

In the early 20th century, asbestos companies emerged to meet the growing demand for mining and manufacturing of the mineral into various products. U.S. companies produced millions of tons of asbestos between 1900 and 2000. 

Many asbestos companies were aware of the health risks, but failed to protect workers or warn consumers about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Their negligence has led victims of asbestos-related diseases to file lawsuits seeking compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Joining the asbestos exposure lawsuit

You may qualify for the asbestos exposure lawsuit if you or a loved one developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, throat cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, pharyngeal cancer, laryngeal cancer, or esophageal cancer. 

If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos and later developed one of these cancers, you may have a case.

Woods and Woods is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, or the International Agency for Research on Cancer.