Many millions of homes across the
United States contain the construction material, asbestos. This is because, the
majority of the 20th century, asbestos was highly regarded for its
fire-proofing qualities. Therefore the material can be found in the average
American home: the walls, the roofs, chimneys, floor and ceiling tiles,
insulation material, ducting and heating systems.
When left undisturbed asbestos is
perfectly safe and there is no need to be alarmed. However, if there is any
damage or disturbance to asbestos, it can cause asbestos fibers to become
airborne. These fibers may be come lodged within an individual’s lungs. Once
lodged these hazardous fibers can cause a number of life-threatening illnesses.
Such fibers are identified with difficulty as they do not show up in
conventional x-rays.
The dangers of asbestos have been
known for a considerable period of time. However many manufacturers of
construction materials and employers continued to expose homeowners and
employees to the material.
The illnesses that are most
likely to affect those exposed to asbestos are asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung
cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. These illnesses and, in
particular, mesothelioma is life-threatening as they can take many years to
diagnose. Diagnosis is only real possible once the symptoms become apparent. It
is a feature of asbestos exposure that symptoms can take many years to manifest
themselves. By the time symptoms do become apparent, it is often too late for the
doctors to successfully treat the sufferer. That is not to say sufferers cannot
be treated but treatment is difficult.
If you or anyone you know have
been exposed to asbestos, or have worked in the construction industry, you may
be able to file a lawsuit against the person or party responsible for your
exposure. A mesothelioma law firm will be able to help you in this case. Filing
a lawsuit can be a technical exercise and therefore you should only consider
appointing a firm of lawyers who have experience in bringing such cases. A
court may award you compensation for the exposure, there could be an award of
medical bills, as well as further treatment costs.