Asbestos-Related Illnesses

Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Queens, Manhattan, New York City, NY Personal Injury Lawyers

 

Renowned for its strength, flexibility, inflammability, insulative properties, and resistance to electrical and chemical damage, asbestos was used heavily in a wide range of construction, insulation and mechanical materials in the United States from the mid-1800s through the 1980s.

 

Although its deadly health dangers became evident in the 1930s, its use continued in the U.S. until a manufacturing ban was imposed in 1989. The fatal effects of asbestos, however, are still being realized in the form of asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

 

The personal injury lawyers in New York at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., help asbestos poisoning victims and their families recover the financial compensation they need and deserve. We hold the employers and manufacturers who chose to ignore warnings about the risks of asbestos responsible for their actions.

 

The Dangers of Asbestos Exposure

 

Asbestos is a subtle killer. The symptoms of asbestos poisoning often take decades to manifest themselves, and it’s often too late for treatment by the time they do.

 

The actual contamination from asbestos occurs when the asbestos particle fibers are inhaled and lodge in the lungs. The fibers accumulate with repeated or prolonged exposure, eventually damaging the lungs and leading to chronic—and often fatal—medical problems.

 

Although prevalent during the post-World War II building boom, asbestos use tapered off as its health risks became more widely reported. In a sadly ironic twist, those responsible for removing asbestos often did so without appropriate safeguards, thus initiating a new round of asbestos-related illnesses.

 

Asbestos-Related Medical Conditions

 

Despite their severity, the health problems caused by asbestos can take years to become evident. Symptoms including chest pain, wheezing, coughing and hoarseness may initially seem minor or be incorrectly attributed to another condition not related to asbestos poisoning.

 

The most common asbestos-related illnesses are:

 

• Asbestosis – A breathing disorder caused by a buildup of asbestos fibers in the lungs, resulting in respiratory problems, chest pains, persistent coughing and lung-tissue scarring
• Mesothelioma – An aggressive type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, the layer of tissue that covers many vital organs; although mesothelioma most often targets the lungs, it may also affect tissue around the heart and other organs
• Lung cancer – Cancer that forms in the lungs; lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States

 

If you or a family member developed any of these conditions due to work-related exposure to asbestos, the New York attorneys at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., can help you determine if you have grounds for a lawsuit.

 

Trades Commonly Affected by Asbestos Poisoning

 

During its heyday, asbestos was used by industries from construction to shipbuilding in everything from brake pads to shingles. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 27 million Americans had “significant occupational exposure to asbestos” between 1940 and 1980.

 

Among the trades most commonly affected by asbestos-related illnesses are:

 

• Boilermakers
• Carpenters
• Construction workers
• Electricians
• Mechanics
• Oil refinery workers
• Pipefitters
• Plumbers
• Power plant workers
• Ship builders

 

Bystanders and family members have also been affected by asbestos poisoning through repeated incidental contact.

 

If you or a loved one developed a health condition as a result of exposure to asbestos, please contact the experienced New York personal injury lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C., for a free case evaluation.

 

 

 

Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C.
Call Us Toll Free
1.877. ASK 4 SAM