Exposure to asbestos can cause several dangerous health conditions, including asbestosis, mesotheliomas, lung cancer, and other issues. Most people in Boston, MA, become exposed to asbestos because of their job. However, there are cases of non-occupational asbestos due to companies using asbestos in construction and consumer products.
The Boston asbestos lawyers of Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP have extensive experience handling asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos litigation is ongoing because of the millions of people exposed to asbestos in the United States. Some individuals may not discover they have an asbestos-related condition until 10 or 20 years after exposure.
If you have questions about asbestos, mesothelioma or other asbestos diseases, contact our Boston mesothelioma lawyers at(774)-214-2515 for a free consultation.
How Our Boston Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help if You’ve Been Exposed to Asbestos
It is essential to hire an experienced mesothelioma law firm to handle your asbestos claim. Asbestos injury claims are complicated personal injury cases. They involve several areas of law and complex medical issues.
Our Boston personal injury lawyers have extensive knowledge and experience handling these types of claims. When you hire Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP to handle your claim, you can expect us to:
- Explain your legal rights regarding an asbestos claim in Boston, Massachusetts
- Investigate how you were exposed to asbestos to identify the parties liable for your injuries
- Work with medical, industrial, manufacturing, and other experts to gather evidence
- File claims with the insurance company and other at-fault parties
- Work with you and your physicians to document your injuries and damages
- Monitor claims and deadlines to file lawsuits
- Negotiate for the maximum value of your damages
Our attorneys are experienced and skilled trial lawyers. If your case cannot be settled through negotiation or mediation, we are prepared to argue the matter in court to protect your right to fair compensation.
Contact our law firm today to request a free consultation with an experienced Boston asbestos attorney.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs naturally in rocks and soil. Several decades ago, asbestos was commonly used in building and consumer products because of its heat resistance and fiber strength.
Asbestos may be found in:
- Building materials, including ceiling and floor tiles, roofing shingles, walls, and insulation
- Cement sheets, millboard, and asbestos paper used to insulate walls, floors, pipes, and hot water heaters
- Heat-resistant fabrics
- Automotive transmission parts, brakes, and clutches
Asbestos fibers can be released into the air when materials containing asbestos are disturbed, damaged, used, or removed. For example, remodeling and demolition of older homes and buildings can release asbestos fibers.
Was I Exposed to Asbestos?
Many workers were exposed to asbestos through their jobs. There are many occupations that were and are vulnerable to asbestos exposure, including:
- Commercial and residential construction workers of all types, including drywall installers, heating & air conditioning, roofers, plumbers, electricians, painters, etc.
- Members of the Armed Forces
- Shipyard workers
- Firefighters
- Metalworkers
- Welders
- Demolition crews
- Manufacturing
- Mining
- Repair services
This is not a complete list of occupations that might have resulted in exposure to asbestos. Furthermore, there are many non-occupational sources of asbestos.
You could have come into contact with asbestos in your home, especially if you live in an older home. You or workers in your home could have disturbed asbestos materials during renovations or remodeling.
In some instances, workers exposed to asbestos could transport fibers home on their clothing or bodies. Also, people living near plants or companies using asbestos in the manufacturing process could have been exposed.
You could have been exposed to asbestos 10 or 20 years ago but just now developed an asbestos-related health condition or illness. If you believe you were exposed to asbestos in the past, tell your physician so that they can monitor you for signs or symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.
Health Risks Associated with Asbestos Exposure
Three of the most common asbestos-related diseases are:
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that has no cure. It affects the cells lining many internal organs. Treatment may prolong life, but malignant asbestos is generally terminal.
Asbestosis
Inhaled asbestos fibers cause inflammation and scarring of the lung tissues. The disease can make it difficult to eat, swallow, and breathe. It could take years for the symptoms to appear and may be mild to severe.
Lung Cancer
Asbestos can result in lung cancer instead of cancer in the lining of the lungs. As a result, individuals may develop small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer from asbestos exposures. Symptoms may include chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, and headaches.
What Compensation Can I Receive for an Asbestos Injury Claim?
Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Many companies used asbestos, knowing that it could cause harm.
Economic and non-economic damages that you could receive for an asbestos claim include:
- The cost of medical care and treatment
- Loss of income and benefits
- Permanent impairments and disabilities
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Reduced future earning potential
If you believe your condition was caused by exposure to asbestos, our attorneys at Sweeney Merrigan Law, LLP can investigate the matter to determine if you have a claim and who is responsible. If your family member died from mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease, you could be entitled to damages for wrongful death.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Boston Asbestos Lawyers
Contact our law office today to speak with one of our mesothelioma attorneys in Boston, MA. Your time to file a claim for asbestos exposure is limited by deadlines in the statute of limitations. Therefore, time is of the essence.
Call now for your free consultation with a Massachusetts mesothelioma attorney to discuss your case.
