Have you been exposed to asbestos at work, home, or through your spouse or parents’ work clothes? Have you been diagnosed with an asbestos-related injury or disease? If you believe you may have worked with or been around someone who worked with asbestos, it warrants a chest x-ray which can often determine whether you have been exposed.
… We never expected the wonderful results we obtained. We felt more like family then a client…
– Client of Schmidt Kramer
As a result of decades of asbestos fibers being used in numerous materials, millions of people have been exposed to these harmful minerals.
The personal injury lawyers at Schmidt Kramer have been providing clients with professional, personalized and fair legal representation for more than 25 years. We can help you obtain the compensation you deserve if you have fallen ill after being exposed to asbestos.
For a free claim review, call (717) 888-8888.
How a Lawyer Can Help
Mesothelioma victims that have legal representation recover more financial compensation compared to those that do not.
The mesothelioma lawyers at Schmidt Kramer are here to help you if you or someone you care about has been injured as a result of a negligent corporation, an employer that didn’t meet safety guidelines and exposed you to unsafe chemicals, or if you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. We want to help.
The days, weeks and months that follow a mesothelioma diagnosis can be trying enough without the struggle of paying hospital bills and lost wages when you’re unable to work. Don’t bear more than you have to on your own—turn to Schmidt Kramer and speak with our lawyers today. Our attorneys will walk you through the legal process and help you get the justice you deserve.
About Asbestosis and Mesothelioma
Asbestos, masses of fibers which have a tendency to create a dusty environment in the air and stick to clothing, can cause cancerous and non-cancerous injuries which sometimes take 30-40 years to develop after the first exposure. Two of the most common diseases associated with asbestos exposure are mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer resulting from exposure to asbestos, which can be brought home on a worker’s clothing and inhaled by family members. There is no known cure.” – National Cancer Institute
Mesothelioma is one of the most insidious environmental injuries to date. A person could breathe in asbestos fibers one day and not show symptoms of mesothelioma until 30 years later. There is no known cure for mesothelioma and the medical costs for treatment can be extensive.
Exposure to asbestos can also lead to asbestosis, a chronic and fibrotic condition affecting the lungs. Other lung problems such as pleural plaques, thickening of the membranes surrounding the lungs and an abnormal collection of fluid between the lungs and inside wall of the chest have been reported.
Medical conditions caused by asbestos exposure are a complicated issue that require experienced, knowledgeable Pennsylvania injury lawyers on your side to help you get the compensation you need.
How Is Mesothelioma Acquired?
When asbestos is mined, or when certain asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are processed, asbestos is sometimes released into the air in dust-sized fibers. Asbestos fibers can be airborne in a processing plant, in the environment nearby, or even in workers’ homes once they accidentally carry them there on their clothes. When the fibers are inhaled, they lodge in the lungs and nearby membranes and the body cannot get rid of them.
What Are Some Of The Warning Signs For Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma can develop for years without showing any signs. Sometimes it is discovered earlier when a chest X-ray is taken for unrelated reasons. If it progresses far enough for symptoms before it is discovered, those symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain or “fullness”
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Fluid in the lining of the lungs
- Lower back pain
- Loss of appetite
- Persistent coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
Hasn’t Asbestos Been Banned?
No, but some of its applications have been banned. Spray-on insulation, preformed pipe insulation, and hot water heater insulation containing asbestos have been banned. Other uses, such as:
- Asbestos-cement corrugated and flat sheet
- Roofing felt
- Auto brake components
… are not currently under ban in the U.S. Asbestos has many important heat-resistant features, but its processing has been poorly regulated in the past.
Even though federal regulation of asbestos processing is now tighter than ever, there are still slip-ups. The bottom line is that even if asbestos were completely banned today the long incubation period means mesothelioma would still be with us for years to come.
Do You Need To Work With Asbestos To Be At Risk?
No. Perhaps the most frightening aspect is that workers might unknowingly carry asbestos fibers into the home on their clothes—family members have contracted the disease simply from this low-level exposure. Also, you don’t have to work with asbestos or in an asbestos processing plant in order to inhale airborne fibers.
Many workplaces are large complexes with one small section in which asbestos-containing materials or products are handled. A lack of proper workplace controls, such as proper ventilation, can sometimes mean airborne fibers drift elsewhere in a complex. Worse, the fibers can be airborne in the surrounding vicinity of a business in which ACMs are processed.
Do You Need To Be Exposed To Asbestos For Years To Be At Risk?
No. Short-term exposure has been proven to cause mesothelioma in many people. The fibers can be inhaled deeply enough on just one or two occasions for them to lodge permanently, deep within the lungs. The body cannot dispose of asbestos fibers. The frequency of exposure, and the amount to which someone is exposed, is not a sure way to predict the onset of the disease.
Any cancer can have a faster onset due to various factors, known and unknown (smoking, genetic predisposition, etc.). As for this rare form of cancer, any person who inhaled asbestos fibers can contract mesothelioma. Contact our lawyers today for an immediate and confidential evaluation of your case.
Contact a Mesothelioma Lawyer Today
If you or someone that you care for has been diagnosed with asbestosis or mesothelioma, we encourage you to contact our law firm today.
Our attorneys have many years of experience handling complex litigation and we can help to explain the legal options that may be available to you in easy-to-understand terms.
We offer a free, initial consultation with a lawyer at our firm to help determine if you have a case and if so, there is no obligation to hire us. There are no upfront fees if we agree to take on your case and we only get paid when we obtain a recovery on your behalf.
Schmidt Kramer. Free Consultation. Ph: (717) 888-8888.