Asbestosis Symptoms May Occur Years After Exposure To Asbestos
Many workers were exposed to asbestos in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries due to the prevalence of its use in the construction industry. However, since then it has become clear that this material is very dangerous. Over 10,000 people die each year in the United States alone from asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma lung cancer. Financial compensation may be the only real justice that these victims and their families can receive. Fortunately, a skilled mesothelioma lawyer will be able to help. Asbestos litigation is the longest mass tort in U.S. history, as well as the most expensive. So far, there have been more than 6,000 defendants and 600,000 claimants, and this number will only increase. Because of the long latency period for the disease, most people do not experience symptoms or receive a diagnosis until decades after exposure to the building material, so some are only now beginning to get sick. The first lawsuit was in 1929, and there have been a great number filed since then; the total awards have reached into the billions of dollars. One man from California who sought out a mesothelioma lawyer after his diagnosis, recently received a settlement for $7.5 million, one of the largest in California’s long history of these lawsuits. There have also been a number of class action suits; one case settled for $5.2 billion against Owens Company, a large insulation manufacturer, bringing compensation for thousands of victims. Though a variety of different types of workers were harmed due to exposure in the earlier part of this century, one class in particular were those involved with Navy vessels during World War II. Both the construction workers who built them in the shipyards and the veterans who served on them are now at an increased risk of these terrible illnesses. In fact, the California man who received the $7.5 million settlement was exposed during his years at the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard and the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, where he worked as a machinist in the nuclear reactor compartments of submarines. He was 64 at the time of his diagnosis. Even though the toxic material is now banned in the United States, this will remain a public health concern for years to come. More and more people are being diagnosed each year. Anyone experiencing symptoms should consult with a doctor, who will be able to prescribe the best course of mesothelioma treatment. Because there is a running statute of limitations, it is also important that anyone who may have been exposed decades ago seeks legal advice at the first signs of the disease. For those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lawyer experience is a critical factor to consider when seeking legal assistance. With so many cases, there are many law firms that have done work in this area, and it may seem a daunting task to know where to start. A directory like LegalTube can help you find the attorney who will be able to help you get the compensation that you deserve.
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