Asbestos is a remarkable strong fibrous mineral with excellent resistance to heat and corrosion, so it has been widely used in thousands of products from pipe insulation to building materials. However, when inhaled, the tiny fibers can cause catastrophic illness and death. If you suffer from an asbestos-related illness, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit or claim for compensation. Call a California asbestos lawyer for more information today.

What makes asbestos so dangerous?

Asbestos is harmless until disturbed in any way, which causes it to then enter into the air. Asbestos becomes dangerous, because the deadly fibers are essentially invisible to the naked eye.

Breathing in asbestos fibers can lead to the development of scar tissue in the lungs, reducing lung function. This condition, known as asbestosis, may progress to disability or even death. More dangerous still, asbestos causes various cancers including lung cancer, and a universally fatal cancer known as mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure is the only cause of mesothelioma. People who worked in the construction industry, shipyard workers, 9/11 responders, and many other trades have a high risk of developing asbestos-related diseases, according to the National Institutes of Health’s National cancer Institute.

Who can an injured party hold liable in an asbestos claim?

Since most people sustained exposure to asbestos through their workplace, a workers’ compensation claim may also be an option. Other parties that victims may be able to recover compensation from include:

• Asbestos manufacturers, suppliers, and other related companies
• Asbestos mining companies
• Insulation or fireproofing companies
• General contracting companies
• Owners of the property where the exposure occurred
• Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts

While each case is different, you may be able to recover compensation to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

How can I prove liability?

Because it usually takes several decades for asbestos-related disease to develop clinically, many of the people filing claims today faced asbestos exposure from the 1940s to the 2000s, but have only very recently received a mesothelioma, lung cancer, other cancer, or asbestosis diagnosis.

California Asbestos Litigation Attorney

This can make it difficult to gather evidence of exposure. However, a lawyer can use employment records, your memory, coworkers’ memories, and large proprietary databases of evidence developed over decades to prove your case.

What can I expect when filing a case?

After we have gathered all of the necessary information about your health and employment history, our California asbestos lawyers can file a civil lawsuit, trust claims, and/or workers’ compensation claim against the all of the parties responsible for your asbestos exposure.