The #1 Asbestosis Lawyer | Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma Attorneys

Asbestosis is a long term scarring and inflammation of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos fibers.

Occupational asbestos exposure is the most common cause of asbestosis. Thousands of new asbestosis cases arise each year despite government regulations.

If you’ve suffered a lung injury or other illness after being exposed to asbestos, consider contacting an asbestosis lawyer. You can contact our law firm for a free consultation or use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify for legal action instantly.

What Causes Asbestosis?

Asbestosis is caused by breathing in high concentrations of asbestos.

The disease can take years to grow before a person has any idea that they’re ill—as long as 30 years, in some cases. When microscopic asbestos fibers build up in the lungs, scar tissue slowly forms that makes it harder to breathe.

The lungs eventually grow weaker and weaker, resulting in further complications and even death.

Asbestosis Symptoms

Asbestosis symptoms are often unexpected because of the years it takes for the disease to develop.

You may be suffering from asbestosis if you’ve been around asbestos and start to experience the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Weight loss or reduced appetite
• Unusual throaty sounds when breathing
• Finger deformities
• Dry cough
• Chest pain

If your doctor has diagnosed you with asbestosis, contact an asbestosis lawyer to file a lawsuit and start your journey to financial recovery.

Asbestosis Diagnosis And Treatment

A diagnosis of asbestosis must be carried out by your doctor. They will perform imaging scans to look for lung scarring and other lung abnormalities such as whiteness. They will also perform a pulmonary function test.

Additionally, your doctor will review your medical history and whether or not you may have been exposed to asbestos. There is no known cure for asbestosis, but treatment can help reduce certain symptoms of the disease.

Asbestosis or mesothelioma patients may undergo treatments such as:

• Medication
• Breathing exercises
• Supplemental oxygen
• Lung transplants

If medical bills for your asbestosis have grown out of control, ask an asbestosis lawyer what your options are.

If you have been diagnosed with asbestosis, you should contact an asbestosis lawyer right away.

An asbestosis lawsuit can help offset the many costs associated with asbestosis treatment.

Having asbestosis increases the risk of developing other complications in the chest area. Some of these complications are benign while others can lead to serious injury and death. 

Asbestosis complications to be aware of are:

1. Pleural effusion
2. Pleural plaques
3. Asbestosis-related cancers

Pleural Effusion

Pleural effusion is when fluid builds up on the outside of the lungs. Asbestosis has been shown to sometimes cause pleural effusion.

Excessive fluid buildup is highly dangerous – 15% of patients die within a month of their diagnosis. The lung inflammation common to asbestosis increases the chances of permanent lung problems.

Symptoms of pleural effusion include:

• Dry cough
• Trouble breathing
• Fever
• Chest pain
• Chronic hiccups

Diagnosis requires a medical assessment which may involve an ultrasound, CT scan, or pleural biopsy.

Pleural Plaques

Pleural plaques are tumor-like tissue growths that form outside the lungs following asbestos exposure. More than half of asbestosis cases lead to pleural plaques, and an estimated 5% of the population will eventually develop a plaque in their life. Pleural plaques are non-cancerous and show no symptoms, so treatment is not necessary.

If you’ve noticed a change in your health after being diagnosed with pleural plaques, call your doctor and considering contacting an asbestosis lawyer.

Some of the more harmful complications of asbestosis are cancers.

Patients diagnosed with asbestosis should be prepared to deal with asbestos-related cancers such as malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer.

Malignant Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the heart, abdomen, or lining of the lungs. Malignant mesothelioma spreads away from its place of origin. Malignant cancers are harder to treat, more painful, and can be fatal very quickly.

People with malignant mesothelioma can expect to live for about a year after they are diagnosed.

Asbestosis, in rare cases, can be compounded by malignant mesothelioma. It’s more often the case that a person develops mesothelioma or asbestosis, not both.

Lung Cancer

Similar to mesothelioma, lung cancer can arise in asbestosis patients following their diagnosis.

Whereas mesothelioma can happen in several spots in the chest cavity, lung cancer is specifically in the lungs.

Lung cancer caused by asbestos is characterized by chest pain and shortness of breath. Both of these symptoms are normal for sufferers of asbestosis, so it’s important for your doctor to conduct an adequate analysis of your condition. Asbestosis damages the cells and genetic makeup of the lungs over time, and enough damage can cause the cells to become cancerous.

Lung cancer is treated like most other cancers with chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation therapy.

The concentration and length of exposure to asbestos particles increase the risk of asbestosis. Pre-existing conditions have also demonstrated increased risk. For example, smokers are more likely to fall ill than non-smokers.

Most Common Areas Containing Asbestos

These places are the most likely to contain dangerous asbestos fibers:

• Old homes and buildings
• Pipes and tanks
• Popcorn ceilings
• Gutters
• Textured paint
• Old floor tiles
• Cement slabs
• Boilers

People With Highest Risk Of Developing Asbestosis

By consequence, these people are at the highest risk of developing asbestosis:

• Miners
• Mechanics
• Railroad workers
• Construction workers
• Electricians
• Carpenters
• Boilermakers

Testing For Asbestos

Asbestos levels can be tested using at-home kits or hiring contractors who can test for you. It’s advised to hire a tester because asbestos testing is lengthy and requires a lot of different tools.

If your asbestos test comes back positive, you will then need to hire an asbestos removal company and potentially an asbestosis lawyer.

If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos and were subsequently diagnosed with asbestosis, you may qualify to participate in an asbestosis lawsuit.

Contact an experienced asbestosis lawyer from TorHoerman Law to discuss your legal options, including filing an asbestosis lawsuit.

Filing An Asbestosis Lawsuit

Before filing a personal injury lawsuit for asbestos exposure or asbestosis diagnosis, it is important that you mitigate injuries by removing yourself from any environments where you face asbestos exposure, seeking medical treatment for your injuries, and following your doctors orders.

Then, you should familiarize yourself with the process of a civil lawsuit, so that you have an understanding of the timeline and order of events in your asbestosis lawsuit.

The first step to an asbestosis lawsuit is hiring a personal injury lawyer to represent you as your asbestosis lawyer.

Gathering Evidence for Asbestosis and Mesothelioma Lawsuits

After you have found an asbestosis lawyer, you can begin the process of gathering and preserving evidence to support your asbestosis lawsuit injury claim.

Some examples of evidence may include:

• Medical records
• Work history
• Tax history
• Expert statements
• Witness testimony
• Personal testimony

This evidence will be used to prove the damages that you incurred as a result of your asbestosis injuries.

Damages in Asbestos Related Lawsuits

In many asbestosis lawsuits, the injured party will demand both punitive damages and compensatory damages for the injuries that they incurred.

Some examples of damages in asbestos lawsuits include:

• Medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages or earning capability
• Permanent disability
• Lost quality of life
• Other compensatory and punitive damages

Your asbestosis lawyer will help you to determine liability – the party or parties at fault for your injuries.

Using the evidence and damages, your asbestosis lawyer will work to gain compensation from the liable party in the form of an asbestosis lawsuit settlement or verdict.

Asbestosis Lawsuit Settlements

Thousands of asbestos cases are filed each year, and several have awarded millions in damages to the victims. The settlement you will receive in an asbestos lawsuit is difficult to predict.

Settlements for asbestosis, mesothelioma and asbestos exposure range from $5,000 to more than $100,000.

These projected settlement amounts are merely projections based on prior results in personal injury lawsuits for asbestosis, asbestos exposure, and mesothelioma lawsuits.

To find out what your personal injury lawsuit for asbestos exposure may be worth, speak with a lawyer for a proper estimate of your damages.

One of the most crucial decisions in your asbestosis lawsuit will be choosing an experienced asbestos lawyer to represent you.

You should seek out an asbestos lawyer who is experienced in legal claims regarding asbestos related illnesses and is dedicated to gaining you as much compensation as possible.

At TorHoerman Law, we have a team of experienced asbestosis lawyers who have experience in toxic exposure lawsuits, mesothelioma lawsuits, and personal injury lawsuits.

Our firm works on a contingency fee basis for all asbestosis lawsuit clients.

Asbestos related diseases and illnesses can have a devastating impact on a person’s quality of life. Asbestosis and mesothelioma claims can be filed on your own or a loved one’s behalf (in the form of a wrongful death lawsuit).

If you or a loved one received an asbestosis or mesothelioma diagnosis after being exposed to asbestos, you may be eligible to file an asbestosis or mesothelioma lawsuit.

Contact us today to talk to an asbestosis lawyer about your potential asbestosis lawsuit. You can also use the chatbot on this page to find out if you qualify to file asbestosis or mesothelioma lawsuits today.

Reach out to us today and find out how an Asbestos Attorney from our team can help you. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means we DO NOT charge for legal representation unless your case ends in success.

TorHoerman Law: Your asbestosis and mesothelioma law firm.